A brown stain on the ceiling below the terrace, blistered plaster next to the balcony door or a damp corner by the window after every heavy downpour. Signs like these do not mean the whole roof or terrace has to be replaced. Water usually finds its way into the structure through a single weak point – a poorly sealed joint, a crack, a drain or a penetration. That is why the key to any repair is a waterproofing layer that stays continuous even at the most demanding details.
First, find where the water gets in
A common mistake is to repair the spot where the stain appeared indoors. Water can travel through the structure a long way from where it entered, so the cause is often somewhere else entirely.
Check these first:
- roof or terrace connections to walls and parapets,
- penetrations: chimneys, vents, pipes and railing posts,
- drains, gutters and places where water collects,
- roof windows and skylights,
- balcony door thresholds and window edges,
- cracks in the old waterproofing,
- joints between different materials, such as concrete, metal and wood.
It is exactly at these small, hard-to-reach details that the waterproofing must stay continuous.
Liquid waterproofing: a seamless membrane, even on difficult details
On a flat, simple surface waterproofing is relatively easy. Things get complicated around a drain, a chimney, a railing post or where two different materials meet – places where membranes and sheets have to be cut, fitted and welded.
Liquid waterproofing is applied with a roller or brush directly onto the prepared substrate and cures into a single-piece elastic membrane. Because it is liquid when applied, it adapts to irregular shapes as well, so one system covers both the larger surface and every detail on it.
This is particularly useful when renovating existing buildings, where we want to avoid stripping off the old layers. Systems like this are developed by the German manufacturer ENKE from Düsseldorf, a company with more than a hundred years of history.
Enkopur® – long-lasting waterproofing for roofs, terraces and balconies
For outdoor surfaces the first choice is Enkopur®, a single-component polyurethane liquid waterproofing that cures with moisture from the air. It is suitable for both new builds and renovations.
It can be used on many substrates, including concrete, screed, bitumen roofing, wood, metal and glass; the right primer is chosen according to the substrate. It seals without joints or welding, and the membrane is vapour-permeable, so residual moisture in the structure can evaporate over time.
Enkopur® is used mainly for:
- flat roofs that leak,
- balconies and terraces with worn-out waterproofing,
- roof connections to chimneys, walls or parapets,
- drains and penetrations and other difficult details,
- joints between different materials.
Why Polyflex fleece is part of the system
The liquid is only half of the system. Enkopur® and Enkolan® are installed together with Polyflex fleece, a polyester reinforcing fleece that strengthens the membrane and helps it bridge cracks.
Reinforcement matters most at corners, wall connections and wherever parts of the structure move or different materials meet.
Installation in four steps
The success of a repair depends above all on substrate preparation and on installing the complete system.
- Prepare the substrate. The substrate must be clean, dry and sound. Remove dust, moss, grease and anything flaking, and roughen smooth surfaces. Apply a primer suited to the substrate.
- First coat. Apply the first coat of the chosen ENKE waterproofing to the prepared substrate.
- Polyflex fleece. Lay the fleece into the wet coat without creases or air bubbles. For details, cut it to size beforehand.
- Top coat. Cover the fleece with a second coat so that it is fully saturated and covered. Total system consumption is at least 3.0 kg/m².
Always follow the manufacturer's technical data sheet and instructions for the substrate in question.
Enkolan® – solvent-free, also for indoor use
Water does not only cause problems outdoors.
For indoor and outdoor use there is Enkolan®, a single-component polyurethane waterproofing that is solvent-free and has no unpleasant odour. It adheres well to many substrates, some even without a primer, and is applied cold with a roller or rubber squeegee.
Thanks to its neutral odour it is suitable for sensitive environments such as homes, kindergartens and hospitals, as well as basements, storerooms, stairwells and entrance halls. Outdoors it is used on flat roofs, balconies and terraces. Consumption is at least 3.0 kg/m² (system with fleece), and it is available in grey and black.
What if your roof is leaking right now?
When water is already coming through the roof during a downpour, there is neither the time nor the weather for a full repair.
That is what ENKE Arctic Seal is for: a fibre-reinforced, solvent-free single-component compound for fast emergency sealing. It is applied with a brush, trowel or spatula straight from the container – no mixing, fleece or primer needed. It can also be used on slightly damp substrates and at temperatures below 0 °C, as long as the surface is free of snow and ice. Consumption is approx. 1.5–3.0 kg/m².
It is important to distinguish between emergency sealing and a permanent repair. Arctic Seal stops the water and prevents further damage. As soon as the weather allows, permanent waterproofing is installed with Enkopur® or Enkolan®; before that, Arctic Seal must be removed mechanically or the surface thoroughly roughened.