Caulking and Waterproofing

As original building, skylight or greenhouse sealants weather and age, urethane sealants will “revert” (liquefy and ooze out of joints) or become dry and brittle, and vinyl gaskets and seals will shrink and expose air gaps. Joint sealants are further damaged by movement due to wind loads, thermal cycling and rain storms. Birds have even been known to peck at and eat caulking on parapet cap joints. As sealants and joints begin to fail, water enters through the cracks and holes, causing up to thousands of dollars in damage.

The solution is often to remove the failing sealant, clean, the joint surfaces, prime, if necessary, and finally apply, then tool the new sealant. Proper joint specifications, training, experience, and good supervision are all needed in order to properly caulk and waterproof. At Five Star Maintenance Group our project team will ensure that our skilled technicians achieve consistently excellent results.

Once water enters a building through any opening, it can reach structural beams, duct work and/or ceiling grids, then migrate further inside the building, making it difficult to find leak sources. Failed parapet cap joints are notorious for causing damage to interior office spaces. It is not unusual for a client to contact us regarding water damage on a certain floor and upon investigation, we find that the water is entering through a failed joint many floors above the damaged area. Our ability to find, then properly address leak sources will be a key factor in successfully completing your caulking & waterproofing projects.