effective protection from the destructive effect of moisture in concrete, metal, wood and reinforced concrete structures is bituminous waterproofing. It is used for coating foundations, concrete floors, walls and ceilings of basements, interfloor ceilings, processing bathrooms, showers, etc. This prevents moisture from penetrating inside the house through small pores and cracks, and ensures the durability of the structure.

Features of using bituminous waterproofing

For processing the main elements of the house, solid and liquefied bitumens, bitumen-rubber and bitumen-polymer waterproofing mastics are used. When working with solid materials, their melting is mandatory. In this case, the question "what to breed bituminous mastic? does not occur. During the melting process, the bitumen is dehydrated. In addition, just concrete base dry thoroughly before applying waterproofing. Otherwise, there is a risk that when hot resin hits the surface of the concrete, boiling will occur and bubbles will form under the insulating layer. This is a hello to the fact that waterproofing will not clog cracks and pores in concrete.

You can apply hot compounds with a wide brush or brush, overlapping strips of 10-15 cm. The only drawback of working with hot bituminous mastic is the high curing rate.

Liquefied waterproofing does not need constant heating. Before proceeding with the application, the bituminous mastic should be diluted with a solvent. Most often, low-octane motor gasoline acts as a solvent. The polymerization of the diluted composition occurs after 24 hours after application, provided that the work is carried out in the open air. When choosing how to dilute bituminous mastic, it should be remembered that gasoline is a combustible substance, and its vapors are explosive. During the waterproofing work, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of open fire, it is strictly forbidden to smoke.

How to dilute bitumen-polymer mastic?

Bitumen-polymer waterproofing can be used at low temperatures. In addition, solvents can be added to them. When deciding how to dilute bituminous mastic, choose one of the options below:

  • petrol
  • White Spirit
  • kerosene

You can also use galosh gasoline, carefully monitoring the consistency of the mixture. Waterproofing is applied with a brush. Each subsequent layer is laid 24 hours after the previous one.

How to dilute the bituminous primer?

The use of this composition allows you to guarantee reliable gluing waterproofing materials to rough and porous surfaces. The primer is used for priming concrete, cement-sand screeds immediately before laying self-adhesive, welded roofing and waterproofing materials.

Bituminous primer is a solution of petroleum bitumen with a softening point of over +80°C in special organic solvents. This composition is characterized by fast drying and high penetrating power.

Before applying the bituminous primer, it is necessary to dilute it with a solvent (kerosene, nefras, gasoline) in a ratio of 1:1 or 1:1.5 by weight.

The composition should be applied without preheating with a nylon brush or brush. If necessary, it is allowed to create several layers of waterproofing.

Bituminous mastic is a mixture of various substances that glue, cement or fill cracks and holes well, making them completely impervious to water. This putty quickly hardens due to the evaporation of the solvent in its composition, or due to chemical substances mixed in the process of preparing it for work.

More often, such material is used to create seamless coatings during work related to the repair and installation of roofs. Mastic is relevant for pavement, waterproofing or vapor barrier floors in bathrooms, showers or pool areas.

Mastic indoors

In order for the mastic not to lose its properties, or vice versa, the useful capabilities of the mixture have improved, it should be properly diluted.

Depending on the type of coating, the proportions change, as does the density of the mastic, otherwise it will not stay on the surface until it dries completely if applied to the ceiling.

Depending on the type of mastic used, the substances that dissolve / dilute it also change.

These substances include:

  • gasoline or kerosene;
  • White Spirit;
  • Gasoline galosh.

The proportions correspond to the volume of mastic used, their violation leads to slow drying or to increased fluidity of the resulting solution. And as a result - to reduce adhesion or useful properties applied solution. He won't reliable protection, letting in moisture.

How to properly dilute and prepare the solution

Another important point, which affects how the mastic should be diluted, the method of application to the surface. This:

  • Manual application method;
  • Mechanized method by means of special devices.

The first method is relevant if the volume and scope of work are small, and the second is better to use when a large area has to be processed.

The second method is also more convenient if hard-to-reach places are treated with mastic.


Automatic mastic application

A mandatory procedure is the preparation of the surface where the bituminous mastic will be applied. If the surface peels off, it is cleaned, then dried, a primer layer is applied to interact with the mastic. Such a primer is sold under the name of a bituminous primer, which is purchased or prepared with one's own hands.

For its preparation, several pieces of pure bitumen are taken, diluted with gasoline or used engine oil.

To do this, gasoline / oil is first poured into a container, heated, and then crushed bitumen is added.

The mixture is heated to a temperature of 190-200 degrees, while it is constantly stirred. Take a quality container that can withstand a similar temperature. The volume of the container is determined by the volume of the mixture that is to be used. If the area is small, a bucket is enough, but if it is several squares, then the capacity should be appropriate, or the cooking process will have to be carried out several times.

Application nuances

The prepared mixture is applied with a brush or roller, depending on the complexity and volume of work. In more rare cases, for application, the mastic is scooped up with a wide spatula.

Work order:

  • The material is applied overlapping so that the layers overlap each other by 5-10 cm.

Application with a spatula
  • A new layer is applied after the previous one has cooled slightly.
  • For rooms where there is a swimming pool, or for roofing works 2-4 layers of similar insulation are used, which are then reinforced with fiberglass and additionally insulated.

Consumption of mastic and its effect on cooking

Consumption of mastic in which it is used rubber crumb or rubber, depending on how many layers you plan to apply. The consumption is also affected by the type of work, the surface on which the mastic will be applied, and the thickness of each layer.

If bituminous mastic is used as the main insulation layer on the roof, then the thickness of this layer is 10 mm, and the consumption is 16 kg per 1 sq. meter. In this case, 3-4 layers are used for the roof.

If it is necessary to process and protect ordinary water and other pipes from corrosion, moisture or other negative environmental influences, then use bituminous mastic applied in 2 layers. For dilution in this case, oil is used.

To dilute the mastic, not only gasoline / oil is used, but also turpentine. Any organic solvent will do. Do not use ordinary acetone or its types. Some dilute mastic with diesel fuel, but in this case the composition is heterogeneous, plus the cooking process is delayed. But in this case, it is guaranteed that the resulting solution will qualitatively seal all the pores and roughness, since the best adhesion and insulation is achieved in the liquid state. Mastic diluted with diesel fuel dries faster, as diesel fuel evaporates quickly.


liquid mastic

Consider that diesel fuel is harmful to the paintwork, it will subsequently peel off. If it is planned to use further coloring, diesel fuel is not used.

There are several subtleties in the cooking process using gasoline, diesel fuel. The fact is that small lumps appear in the mixture from them. But if the type of work allows such a small defect, then it's okay. If you plan to use bituminous mastic for application to the car body, then it is better to prefer white spirit.

Correct proportions and cooking rules

As for the rationing of proportions, which the builder should be guided by when preparing the mixture, they are different.

It is taken into account that the boiler used for cooking the composition is not loaded with more than 70 percent, otherwise the mixture will splash out during the cooking process and it is inconvenient to interfere with it.


The boiler for cooking is not installed above the fire, but nearby, best of all on a special stand

It is not worth exceeding the cooking temperature, otherwise the bitumen will decompose. It is not recommended to allow large temperature drops, otherwise the mixture will turn out to be heterogeneous in composition.

To understand that overheating is strong, just look into the boiler - the appearance of characteristic yellow or green bubbles will indicate this.

First, gasoline or another liquid is added to the boiler, which is used to dilute the bitumen mixture, bitumen is placed in small portions, then the mixture is thoroughly mixed until completely dissolved.

Builders in the preparation of the mixture are guided by their own experience. They determine the readiness of the mixture by its density. Strong dilution leads to the fact that the mastic becomes a primer, and this is not welcomed by customers, since the consumption of materials for the primer is higher than for the mastic. The problem will be exacerbated if the expense and the need to use mastic were specified in advance.

Homogeneity is considered the main criterion for the prepared solution.

For storage, bituminous mastic is poured without filler into ordinary plastic bottles, close. So it is stored indefinitely. If necessary, it is squeezed out of the bottle.

In contact with

Such a building material as bitumen has been used for pouring roofs for a very long time. Perhaps the reason for the popularity of bitumen is its cheapness. But preferring it to other more expensive materials, do not forget that bitumen is short-lived. Direct sunlight and rays are especially dangerous for him, from this he begins to melt and flow. And in winter time from severe frosts, it cracks and this may cause leaks in the roof of the garage.

But if you still decide to use this building material, like bitumen, then consider the process of preparing it for pouring.

In order to prepare about 10 kg of bituminous mastic, you will need:

  • 8.5 kg bitumen
  • 1 kg of filler (it can be peat chips, asbestos, sawdust chalk, crushed mineral wool etc.)
  • 0.5 kg of used crankcase oil.

It is best to cook the bituminous mixture in a thick-walled boiler with a tightly closed lid. Bitumen can burn in thin-walled containers.

Bitumen should be heated gradually over low heat.

The heating temperature of bitumen ranges from 160-200 degrees. Heat up for 1-3 hours depending on the heating temperature, the higher it is, the less we heat the bitumen.

At a temperature above the specified maximum (220 and above), coke is formed in the bitumen, which significantly worsens the properties of the bitumen (it can crack).

The surest sign of bitumen overheating is the appearance of green-yellow smoke and bubbles.

We cook the bitumen until a homogeneous state and the appearance of a glossy surface.

After that, remove it from the heat and add filler and crankcase oil in small portions. And immediately, with hot bitumen, we begin to carefully pour the roof of the garage, which by this moment should be thoroughly cleaned of all kinds of contaminants, dried and prepared for pouring. When applying bitumen, we use kvatch or we apply bitumen in bulk.

Then a roofing material is glued onto the hot bitumen in order to prevent overheating of the bitumen in the sun in the future.

You can cook bitumen for pouring roofs yourself on a fire, take a barrel or a large pan (since bitumen usually needs a lot), take 10 kg of resin, a liter of mining (engine oil, can be purchased at service stations) and a kilogram of construction chalk.

We put the bricks on the edge, a container on it, resin in the container (put about a couple of kilos, and then put the rest when melted), kindle a fire under the container using small chips (try to keep the fire small so that the resin melts and does not boil around not straightened pieces.

As soon as the resin melts a little bit, we fill in the chalk and pour in the working off, stir thoroughly - everything is ready, you can tar the roof and glue the roofing material.

The prepared bitumen, when cooled, will solidify in a container, it can be reheated and used.

Filling the roof with bitumen is a necessary thing and you need to do this work so that you don’t return to it for a long time, so that there are no leaks. And this is done simply in the old fashioned way, if I may say so. We take a large old container - for example iron barrel, we throw pieces of bitumen into it (it’s better to make the pieces smaller), put it on a tripod and set fire to the blowtorch, let the bitumen melt completely. Then we add mining to the bitumen (this is used engine oil), mix thoroughly and then chalk and also stir. The proportions are: 10 kg. bitumen; ! liter of mining; 1 kg of chalk.

The base of the house is exposed to constant destructive effects from various environmental factors. Particularly active is the water that is contained in the soil and penetrates into it after precipitation. During the construction of the foundation, it is necessary to provide additional protection against this influence. The most commonly used bituminous mastic.

Why is coating waterproofing with bitumen necessary?

In its classical form, bituminous mastic is a mixture of several components that securely and tightly cement cracks in the base surface and prevent moisture from penetrating into the foundation structure.

Mastic quickly hardens due to the use of various solvents and other elements that ensure the effectiveness of the solution. With the help of mastic it is possible to create highly effective seamless surfaces. This is true for the roof and for the walls, and definitely for the foundation.

Before using the mastic, it is important to know how and with what to dissolve the resin to paint the foundation. From right combination elements depends on the effectiveness of the subsequent operation of the protective layer.

How to dilute bituminous mastic

To know exactly how to dilute the resin for painting the foundation, you need to understand what indicators you want to get. The proportions in which the constituent components in the mastic are combined determines not only the density, but also the performance characteristics of the solution. Among the substances used to dissolve the mastic, the following are used:

  • Gasoline (kerosene).
  • White Spirit.
  • Gasoline-galosh (Gasoline-solvent for the rubber industry).

Choosing the right substance and the amount of material that needs to be diluted with bitumen for the foundation means preparing optimal material for foundation work.

What additives are used to dilute the mastic

It is possible to add to the created solution various options fillers. Therefore, the builder should decide what parameters he wants to get in the end.

Now the most popular types of mastic are the following:

  • bituminous rubber mastic,
  • polyurethane,
  • latex,
  • oil, rubber.

If we take bitumen-rubber mastic, then at the heart of its composition are directly bitumen and polymer.

Polyurethane and rubber form in the solution additional plasticity of the solution, in which the formed film is not only strong, but can be stretched by about 20 times.

The use of rubber for the preparation of cold mix allows you to create a material that does not require preparation before use. The mastic is applied evenly and is homogeneous and durable.

The addition of oil components helps to prevent hardening of the material. Such compounds are necessary for waterproofing pipes and which will be placed underground.

Cooking features

The process of making bituminous mastic is not difficult, you just need to choose the right ingredients and follow the basic cooking rules.

The following elements are required to complete the work:

  1. pieces of bitumen, cleaned of contaminants;
  2. specially selected fillers,
  3. various plasticizers.

For example, to create waterproofing, you need to have about 10 kilograms of mastic. This will require approximately 8 kg of bitumen, 1 kg of filler and 500 grams of plasticizer.

For mastic cooking, durable boilers with a wall thickness of 3 mm or more are selected. There should also be a lid. Thanks to the heating of the walls, the bitumen heats up evenly.

The boiler must be loaded no more than 70% - otherwise the mastic may begin to splash out. For cooking, the following rules must be strictly observed:

  1. The cauldron is not placed above the fire, but is set to the side.
  2. The temperature should be at the level of 190 degrees, which does not lead to the decomposition of the material.
  3. Temperature fluctuations are unacceptable, which can lead to the formation of an inhomogeneous mastic mass.
  4. For the fastest preparation of the mixture, it is necessary to divide the bitumen into small pieces.
  5. Cooking mastic should be slow and even.
  6. Filler and additives should also be crushed.
  7. The addition of components is carried out gradually.
  8. The solution is regularly stirred and the resulting foam is periodically removed.
  9. After the disappearance of the foam, fillers can be added.
  10. After adding the resulting solution is thoroughly stirred - and the bituminous mastic is ready for use!

Now, after you have learned how to dilute the bituminous mastic for the foundation and how to prepare it, you should know how to properly apply it to the surface.

How to apply bituminous mastic

After preparing the mastic, it should be properly applied to the surface. For this, 2 methods are used:

  1. Application by hand.
  2. Mechanized method of application with the use of special tools.

The manual method of work is optimal when performing a small amount of work. For a large area of ​​work, manual technology is impractical, so mechanisms are used. Also, tools are used to work with hard-to-reach places.

Before application, the surface to be treated should be prepared. The surface is cleaned and dried thoroughly. After that, a thin layer of primer is applied, which ensures interaction with the mastic.

After the mixture is ready and warm enough, you can proceed directly to the application. For this, an ordinary roller or brush is used - the choice of a specific tool depends on the nature of the surface, volume and complexity of the configuration of the foundation, wall or roof. Sometimes a wide spatula is used for application.

The layers of mastic are applied with an overlap, which should be approximately 10 centimeters. This prevents the formation of empty parts, which will be exposed to moisture penetration.

The application of the next layer of mastic begins after the previous one has completely hardened.

The use of bituminous mastic for waterproofing the base is an important factor in protecting the structure and preventing the formation of microcracks and damage.


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