Case Study: Terrace Waterproofing in Whitefield, Bangalore

The Problem

A 12th-floor apartment in a Prestige Shantiniketan tower had been leaking into the flat below every monsoon for 3 consecutive years. Two previous waterproofing jobs — both from general contractors — had failed within one monsoon season each. The RWA had spent ₹90,000 total on failed attempts before calling LoklFix.

Our Diagnosis

Our inspection found that both previous contractors had applied waterproofing coating on top of the original failed system without hacking it off. Water was entering through expansion joints between terrace sections — a common issue in large apartment buildings where thermal movement creates movement at joint lines. No amount of surface coating fixes a joint failure.

The Solution

Full hack of existing failed waterproofing layer (2 days of preparation work). PU sealant injection into all expansion joints (Fosroc Thioflex). Two-coat Fosroc Brushbond TG system over the full 1,200 sqft terrace surface, including 300mm treatment around all drain surrounds and full parapet wall inner face treatment.

The Result

What This Job Cost — And Why

The total cost of ₹52,000 for this job breaks down as: 35–40% materials, 25–30% surface preparation and labour, 10–15% mobilisation and equipment. This is higher than the cheapest quotes the customer received — but it produced a permanent fix where two previous cheaper jobs had failed completely.

The framework for evaluating any waterproofing quote isn't price per sqft. It's: What is the contractor's diagnosis of the root cause? What preparation will they do? What material and how many coats? What does the written warranty cover? Get those four answers in writing before comparing quotes.

Cost Breakdown — Where Your Money Goes

The total of ₹52,000 for this 1,200 sqft terrace breaks down as follows:

For context: the two previous failed jobs cost ₹18,000 and ₹22,000 respectively. Total spent before LoklFix: ₹40,000. Total damage to 11th-floor ceiling over 3 monsoons: approximately ₹35,000 in replastering. The ₹52,000 permanent fix was cheaper than the accumulated failed repairs plus damage.

Why the Previous Jobs Failed

Both previous contractors applied polymer coating directly over the existing failed waterproofing layer without hacking. This is the single most common cause of repeat waterproofing failure in Bangalore.

When you apply a new coating over a delaminated old layer, the bond forms between new coating and old coating — not between new coating and concrete. The old layer continues to peel away from the concrete, taking the new layer with it. Within one monsoon season the entire system fails again, often in different locations as the peeling spreads.

Neither previous contractor tested for expansion joint failure — the actual entry point for this building. You can coat the entire terrace surface with the best product available and still have leaks if expansion joints between terrace sections are open.

Prevention — What to Check Every Pre-Monsoon

• Walk the terrace after the first light rain — look for water pooling in any spot longer than 2 hours
• Check expansion joints for any cracking or sealant shrinkage (expansion joints need resealing every 5–7 years)
• Clear all terrace drains before monsoon — blocked drains cause ponding that overwhelms even good waterproofing
• Check parapet wall cap for hairline cracks — water enters through the cap and runs down the inner face
• Under an active LoklFix AMC, we do this check for you every October (post-monsoon) and reseal any new cracks found