Knauf Flachendicht Waterproofing: Specifications and Benefits

Modern manufacturers of building materials are trying to surprise potential buyers with a large assortment of their products. For example, the company produces plaster, tile adhesives, grout, putty, that is everything you need for tiling. A prominent representative of such universalism is the trademark Knauf.

Among dry mixes and ready-to-use compounds, waterproofing Knauf Flachendicht is in particular demand, the technical characteristics and advantages of which have already been appreciated by many Russian master finishers.

Waterproofing Knauf Flachendicht is good because it is sold in finished form, you do not need to knead, dilute, soak and wait for the desired consistency.The exception is water, and only in those cases when you need to get a more liquid mixture.

It can be used to seal joints between plasterboard foxes, concrete slabs and other materials. It is applied with a brush, spatula, roller, all that, as a rule, can be found in any home. At facing works the reinforcing grid is not necessary.

Waterproofing dries quickly, the period of interlaminar drying is 5 hours, full - 12 hours. According to reviews, This is one of the best insulation compounds that users actively recommend to each other.

In addition to all of the above, the Flachendicht blend has advantages such as:

• water resistant Waterproofing resistant to the action of aggressive liquid substances, the activity of microorganisms;
• does not contain solvents; bitumen, like any other bitumen-polymer mixture for isolation, is physiologically neutral;
• well fixed to any building surfaces;
• misses water vapor;
• it is elastic even at sub-zero temperatures, therefore with Knauf Flachendicht waterproofing it is possible to work at an ambient temperature of -20ºС;
• resistant to high temperatures (up to + 80ºС);
• resistant to aging processes;
• easy to apply, does not drain even on vertical surfaces;
• it has a low consumption rate per 1 m². To treat smooth surfaces, it is sufficient to use 350–500 g / m² of composition, and for rougher materials, it is necessary to prepare 455–700 g / m² of insulation;
• it is safe for humans due to the absence of solvents; therefore, it can be used to design containers for storing drinking water.

However, judging by the consumer reviews, this kind of product has disadvantages. Some users complain that the mastic dries for a long time, sometimes for more than two weeks, and also sticks heavily, even after it has completely dried. But the buyers themselves also point out that there is a high probability of buying fake goods. And also the disadvantages include the inability to choose a different package, because Flachendicht is sold exclusively in 5 kg buckets.

Knauf Flachendicht coating waterproofing is a latex-based water dispersion with a pronounced blue color, it has reinforcing, chemically inert additives. There are no solvents in the product.The mixture does not have a strongly pronounced chemical odor, so Knauf Flachendicht can be used in closed rooms without additional ventilation. It is sold in five-kilo buckets.

Waterproofing Knauf Flachendicht produced to perform such internal works as:

• waterproofing of premises with a high degree of humidity inside (pools, saunas, kitchens, bathrooms);
• waterproofing of moisture-absorbing substrates and materials sensitive to the influence of liquids (plaster, concrete, gypsum screeds);
• to obtain a waterproof base before laying tile, natural stone and other facing materials on the floor and vertical surfaces inside the premises.

Regarding the structures that can be applied waterproofing Flachendicht, the manufacturer does not specify any restrictions in the instructions for use. The polymer mixture can be used on the following grounds:

• stone and brick walls;
• concrete floors and wood flooring;
• plasterboard partitions or structures of particleboard and fiberboard;
• floors of gypsum fiber panels;
• surfaces treated with plaster;
• floors or walls decorated with decorative tiles;
• foam insulation systems;
• protective metal structures;
• bottoms of cars;
• the bases of pools, in cellars, in damp rooms;
• concrete and stone foundations.

Before using Knauf Flachendicht products, you must find out in what sequence you need to perform all the isolation work.

• To begin with, clean the surface to be cleaned from dust, dirt and other debris. This stage is important for almost all types of waterproofing, since not removed particles can spoil all the work, making it difficult for the facility to penetrate into the required place. In addition, the waterproofing will very quickly lose its original properties, the quality deteriorates, and it may be necessary to repair or completely replace the waterproofing layer soon.
• In addition to cleaning, the surface to be treated with a coating material should be degreased. At first, you can walk around the base with a vacuum cleaner or wipe with a wet washcloth (rags) to remove all even the smallest particles of dust,then wait for complete drying. The surface can be degreased with Knauf.

It is very convenient that Flachendicht mastic does not need to be mixed, diluted or carried out in any other way of preparation. The composition that is in the container is ready for use, you only need to first calculate how much you need to process the selected area.

At Flachendicht waterproofing there are analogues, however, unlike them Knauf is better to apply in several layers, at least in two, and if the working surface is very porous, then you need as many as three layers.

With Flachendicht waterproofing, you can forget about buying any special tools - just arm yourself with an ordinary roller or paint brush. In order to make the waterproofing effect at the joints of the walls or walls and the floor covering more reliable, the mastic developer recommends additionally lining the Flachendichtband insulating tape.After that, with the help of a spatula, you only need to smooth out the waterproofing mixture that has penetrated through the mesh base.

Upon completion of the entire procedure and complete drying of the insulation coating, a resistant waterproof membrane is formed, which is difficult to spoil with something. It is not afraid of moisture, temperature jumps (withstands drops from +20 to +50 degrees), chemical and mechanical effects, does not give in to the negative influence of UV rays, and is resistant to any weather conditions.

On the packaging from the manufacturer provides instructions for the use of the mixture, which states the following:

• waterproofing is best applied at an ambient temperature of + 5ºС - + 25ºС;
• It is not recommended to mix Flachendicht waterproofing with other mortars or liquids, except plain water;
• glueing tiles or any other decorative facing materials to the surface with Knauf Flachendicht is possible only with the use of an adhesive substance that does not contain a solvent;
• until the insulating layer has completely dried, it must be protected from mechanical damage that may occur in the process of decorating with decorative materials.

The amount of the mixture of waterproofing Knauf depends on the porosity of the surface, and accordingly on the moisture resistance of the surface to which the mastic will be applied. If surfaces that are poorly absorbing liquid are isolated, then one to three square meters will need 250–350 g of coating agent. Such an application is considered single-layer. Multilayer application requires up to 1.0 kg / m² of waterproofing.

For information on how to work with waterproofing from Knauf Flachendicht, see the following video.