Basements, plaza decks, locker rooms, and any concrete exposed to standing water need engineered waterproofing. Ardex builds complete membrane systems where the primer, coating, and protection layer work as one assembly. We install to full Ardex spec so the waterproofing stays dry for decades. Free written estimate on every project.
Waterproofing Succeeds When Every Layer Coordinates
A waterproofing membrane is not a standalone product. The substrate must be prepped to accept the primer. The primer must bond the membrane. The membrane must cure fully before the protection layer goes down. The protection layer must shield the membrane from backfill, foot traffic, or weather. Remove one step or swap one material and the whole assembly fails.
Ardex systems are engineered so each component supports the next. The warranty depends on that full-system installation. We follow the Ardex protocol because that is what keeps water out of basements and off plaza decks for the long term.
We evaluate the substrate condition, exposure (below-grade, deck, wet room), and protection requirements, then select the right Ardex system from their full range.
Prepare the slab
Concrete is cleaned, cracks and spalls are repaired with compatible Ardex mortar, and all transitions are staged for membrane application.
Prime and coat
The matched Ardex primer is rolled on, then the membrane (liquid or sheet) is applied to spec thickness, with every corner, penetration, and joint detail per the engineered design.
Protect and hand off
The protection layer (drainage board, screed, or traffic surface) is installed over the cured membrane, the system is documented for warranty, and the concrete is ready for service.
The critical detail
Corners and Penetrations Are Where Waterproofing Fails
The flat field of the membrane rarely leaks. The failure point is the corner where the wall meets the floor, the pipe penetration, the expansion joint, or the edge where the membrane meets a different material. Ardex provides engineered detail products (corner strips, flashing, sealants) for those transitions, and we install them per spec because that is where the system has to hold.
If the substrate has existing damage, we use Ardex repair systems to restore it before the membrane goes down. For foundation waterproofing that includes interior or exterior drainage, we coordinate the membrane with the broader basement protection strategy.
System types, joint details, protection layers and warranty.
Multiple systems for different applications: below-grade liquid-applied, plaza-deck membrane, wet-room system, balcony waterproofing. We spec from the Ardex range based on the project's actual exposure and substrate.
Because that is where most waterproofing fails. The membrane field is rarely the problem; the corner or penetration is. Ardex provides engineered detail products for those transitions; using them per spec is what makes the system hold.
A physical layer (drainage board, screed, traffic surface) installed over the cured membrane to protect it from backfill, traffic, or service exposure. Without protection, even a perfectly installed membrane can be damaged in subsequent construction phases.
Yes, system warranty applies when installed to Ardex spec by an Ardex-system installer. We deliver the warranty documentation at handoff.
Depends on area and system. Below-grade wall waterproofing on a foundation might be a few days; a full plaza-deck system stretches longer. The full schedule is in the quote.
Client reviews
What Portland Clients Say About Ardex Waterproofing
Below-grade waterproofing on a foundation upgrade. Full Ardex system, every detail to spec, two springs of melt with the basement bone dry. Warranty documentation in our file. Real install.
Z. V5
Property Owner, Portland
★★★★★
Plaza deck waterproofing system on a commercial roof terrace. Membrane, drainage board, traffic surface, every layer per Ardex spec. Inspector signed off cleanly, no leak issues since.
Y. V5
GC, Vancouver
★★★★★
Wet-room waterproofing for our locker rooms. Every joint, every penetration detailed per spec. Three years of daily wet operation, zero failures. The detail work is what matters.
Q. V5
Facility Manager, Hillsboro
★★★★★
They walked through the joint detail before install so we understood why it cost what it cost. The system has held; the up-front spec discussion was worth it.
X. V5
Custom Home Builder, Gresham
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Describe the waterproofing need (basement, deck, wet room), the area size, and the project timeline. We will spec the Ardex system and send a written quote within one business day.
