The Whys and Hows of Water Leakages

by the fear of leakages. The city’s humid climate combined with ill-maintained buildings leads to monsoons rife with water leakage issues. This is why we’re diving deep into all things leakages so you can finally find a permanent solution!

Seepage Vs Leakage

Even though they are often used interchangeably there’s a difference between both. A seepage is water that appears on the surface by passing through a slab or wall, and they appear as damp patches that do not drip. Leakages take place when water gets in through cracks and holes. These may appear both as patches and as patches that drip. 

For this article, we are detailing the causes, effects and solutions for both!

Causes

The cause of the leakage will play a very important factor in how it gets remedied. Tracing the leak back to its origin will ensure that you can fix it in a way that prevents reoccurrence. 

●     Extreme weather conditions 

Conditions like extreme heat and rain cause substantial damage to your building, leading to cracks that let water in. 

●     Damaged building structure 

Leaks may be caused due to structural damage to ceilings, walls, pillars and rooftops. Water that seeps in through these cracks goes deeper into your building and corrodes its internal structure. 

●     Water stagnation 

Buildings in India are constructed with flat roofs as opposed to slanted roofs which leads to water collecting in one spot every monsoon. The longer the water stays in one location, the easier it is for it to seep through the walls and ceilings. This is made worse when roofs don’t have proper drainage or have clogged pipes. 

●     Faulty plumbing 

Another common cause is leaking or broken bathroom fittings. The culprit could also be a water supply or sanitary pipe outside your home. 

●     Inferior workmanship 

A lot of core waterproofing is done during the construction of the building. This includes waterproofing of the wet areas, installation of appropriate drainage systems, and sealing joints. It’s also important that the material used in construction is of the best quality because it affects seepage considerably.

●     Age-related decline in the structure 

Even the most well-built and well-maintained homes can deal with leaks and cracks simply due to age-related wear and tear. All buildings have a life span and the older your building is, the more common these issues become. 

Effects 

Based on the extent of the leakage it may range from being a minor inconvenience to an urgent problem. Here’s a range of effects that leakages have on your life/ your building –   

●     Visual – Your building starts looking unsightly both externally as well as internally. Discolouration, damp patches and chipping of paint are very common with leakages. 

●     Health – A host of health issues are caused by living in homes with leakages. The dampness and resulting mold lead to upper respiratory ailments like asthma and lung infections. Additionally, you may also notice irritation of your skin, throat or eyes. 

●     Monetary – Waterproofing work is time-consuming and expensive. Leakages might also spread and damage electric fittings and appliances. 

●     Structural – Corrosion of structural metal elements, as well as bricks, affects the building’s stability greatly and makes it more likely to collapse. The salinity of Mumbai’s air also degrades the life of steel. If your building is dilapidated then the risk of collapse during extreme weather also increases. 

●     Mental – Living in a leakage-prone building causes a lot of stress and anxiety. The stress of corrosion, cost of repairs and fear over the safety of your family can make it hard to feel peaceful or relaxed within your own home. 

Solutions

Unfortunately, leakages almost always need to be fixed because left unchecked they will get worse. You can use a mix of short-term and long-term solutions to make sure they don’t come back. 

Short Term

●     Use tarps or other methods to cover areas where you know leakages happen.

●     Apply cement slurry over cracks in walls and tiles. 

●     Create temporary seals over leaking pipes, faucets etc.

●   Repaint surfaces with water-resistant paint in places where leakages look particularly bad. This is only a superficial and temporary fix to the problem though.

Long Term

●     Waterproof the affected parts of the building professionally using specially formulated materials.

●     Follow a strict maintenance schedule. Regular maintenance has a huge impact on the life span of your building.

Make sure to include the following in your schedule

1. Check all parts of the building to take stock of leakages & promptly repair them.
2. Replace broken tiles & leaking bathroom fixtures.
3. Remove stagnant water regularly, especially after heavy rain.
4. Clean rain gutters & clogged pipes.
5. Get a professional structural audit done to diagnose problems.

●     Fix the ventilation in your home, and use exhaust fans to dry bathrooms and the kitchen. You should also allow adequate sunlight into your home so that damp patches can dry faster. 

●    Add structural reinforcements to fix the structural issues that may be leading to leakages.

Who is responsible for leakage repairs?

When it comes to leakages in the common areas of the society, the society itself will be liable to repair the same.

●   If the leakage is coming in from the external parts of the society into your home – the terrace, the external walls or parapets etc then the society will be responsible for its repair.

●   If the leakage is internal and affects only your home then it will be your responsibility. 

●   If it is between the internal walls of two houses then ideally both will split the cost 50/50. 

Redevelopment as a permanent solution

As we’ve discussed above, leakages cause serious and often irreversible damage to your building. Getting those fixed then becomes a very costly, disruptive and time consuming endeavour. If your building is reaching the point where no amount of repairs can fix it and you feel like you’re wasting money then choosing to redevelop your building is a good choice. Redevelopment will help you get a brand new home that is built using better materials and new waterproofing techniques. This new home will also be much more resilient. 

To conclude, leakages are difficult to deal with, especially in cases where you can’t easily identify the source. For older buildings, it’s necessary to check for water damage regularly to make sure it is safe for its inhabitants. Planning for the monsoon season and its effects on your building should be done beforehand. Some leaks are small and dry up after the monsoon season. However, the leakages that seep and corrode your building’s structure are the ones you should be worried about. There is no coming back once a building has been severely damaged by these leakages. In such cases only options like demolition and redevelopment will remain. Preventative maintenance and regular auditing are the best options to save and prolong the life of old buildings dealing with leakages. And, if your building is already substantially damaged it is best to reach out to experts for guidance on redevelopment at the earliest.