Waterproofing Membranes for Detroit Concrete Below-Grade & Wet Spaces
When water finds its way into basements, plaza decks, or wet rooms, the membrane system has to be engineered and installed as a complete assembly. Ardex waterproofing gives us the chemistry and detail products to seal concrete against moisture for decades. We install the full Ardex protocol, from substrate prep through protection layer, with written warranty.
Ardex Waterproofing Holds When Every Layer Plays Its Role
A waterproofing membrane is not a single product. It is a sequence: substrate preparation, primer, membrane application, and protection layer. Each step depends on the one before it. The primer bonds the membrane to the slab; the membrane stops water; the protection layer keeps the membrane safe from backfill, foot traffic, or construction activity. Remove or shortcut any step and the whole assembly fails.
Ardex systems are engineered so that each component works with the others. The primer is matched to the substrate and the membrane. The membrane thickness and application method are specified for the exposure. The protection layer is chosen for the service condition. We follow that protocol because that is what makes the waterproofing last.
Our full Ardex product line includes repair mortars and overlays. When the waterproofing is part of a larger basement protection project, we coordinate with our foundation work to ensure the slab and walls are ready for the membrane install.
Recent work
Installation sequence
How Ardex Waterproofing Gets Installed in Detroit
Assess and specify
We evaluate the substrate, exposure conditions, and protection requirements to select the right Ardex system (below-grade liquid-applied, plaza-deck sheet membrane, wet-room system, or balcony protection).
Prepare the slab
The concrete surface is cleaned, repaired with compatible Ardex mortars if needed, and any cracks or spalls are addressed. Joint details and penetrations are staged for the membrane application.
Prime and membrane
The matched Ardex primer is applied to bond the membrane to the slab. The membrane (liquid or sheet) is then installed to the specified thickness, with all corners, transitions, and penetrations detailed per Ardex engineering.
Protect and document
The protection layer (drainage board, screed, or traffic surface) is installed over the cured membrane. We provide warranty documentation and a handoff checklist so you have proof of the system installation.
The critical detail
Corners and Penetrations Are Where Waterproofing Fails
In nearly every waterproofing failure we investigate, the field membrane is intact. The problem is at the corner where the wall meets the floor, the pipe penetration, or the joint where two slabs meet. These transitions move and flex; water finds the gap. Ardex provides engineered detail products (corner strips, flashing, sealants) designed for these transitions, and we install them per spec because that is where the system has to hold.
If the substrate has existing damage, we use Ardex repair mortars to restore it before the membrane goes down. For larger basement waterproofing projects, we coordinate the slab work with our commercial floor expertise to ensure the concrete is ready for the membrane system.
System types, joint details, protection layers and warranty.
Multiple systems for different applications: below-grade liquid-applied, plaza-deck membrane, wet-room system, balcony waterproofing. We spec from the Ardex range based on the project's actual exposure and substrate.
Because that is where most waterproofing fails. The membrane field is rarely the problem; the corner or penetration is. Ardex provides engineered detail products for those transitions; using them per spec is what makes the system hold.
A physical layer (drainage board, screed, traffic surface) installed over the cured membrane to protect it from backfill, traffic, or service exposure. Without protection, even a perfectly installed membrane can be damaged in subsequent construction phases.
Yes, system warranty applies when installed to Ardex spec by an Ardex-system installer. We deliver the warranty documentation at handoff.
Depends on area and system. Below-grade wall waterproofing on a foundation might be a few days; a full plaza-deck system stretches longer. The full schedule is in the quote.
Client reviews
Detroit Clients on Ardex Waterproofing Installation
Below-grade waterproofing on a foundation upgrade. Full Ardex system, every detail to spec, two springs of melt with the basement bone dry. Warranty documentation in our file. Real install.
Z. V5
Property Owner, Detroit
★★★★★
Plaza deck waterproofing system on a commercial roof terrace. Membrane, drainage board, traffic surface, every layer per Ardex spec. Inspector signed off cleanly, no leak issues since.
Y. V5
GC, Warren
★★★★★
Wet-room waterproofing for our locker rooms. Every joint, every penetration detailed per spec. Three years of daily wet operation, zero failures. The detail work is what matters.
Q. V5
Facility Manager, Ann Arbor
★★★★★
They walked through the joint detail before install so we understood why it cost what it cost. The system has held; the up-front spec discussion was worth it.
X. V5
Custom Home Builder, Sterling Heights
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Describe the waterproofing application (basement, plaza deck, wet room), the area size, and the project timeline. We will specify the Ardex system and provide a written quote within one business day.
