Caulking And Waterproofing Services | RayAccess, Inc.

Proudly Serving Los Angeles, Orange County, and Surrounding Areas

Since 2011, RayAccess has built a reputation for safety, quality, and efficiency in the exterior building maintenance industry. We specialize in above-grade caulking and waterproofing for commercial, residential, and industrial clients. Our unique services keep buildings, tenants, and property managers happy. 

If old sealants fail, your building is at risk of water intrusion. It’s important to repair expired sealants to prevent costly damage and building repairs. If you spot any bubbling, cracking, or water stains, the exterior of your building may need caulking and waterproofing. 

Service Area & Building Access Capabilities:

RayAccess proudly serves the entire Los Angeles area for caulking and waterproofing services. Due to our experience using the complete spectrum of access methods we can safely work on historical buildings, modern high rises, hotels, churches, stadiums, warehouses, and various industrial structures.

Our team is equipped and trained to use boom lifts, suspended scaffolding, swing stages, and industrial rope access. RayAccess is the only Los Angeles based waterproofing contractor that employs industrial rope access (IRA) technicians. IRA is a method using top anchors and two line ropes in accordance with SPRAT and IRATA safety standards

Caulking:

Exterior Caulking is the process of closing open gaps to ensure a building envelope system is securely sealed. Since substrates contract and expand with changes in temperature, exterior joints need to maintain a state of elasticity in order to account for this movement. Over time, joint sealants will fail due to tensile stress or wear and tear from the expansion. Below we describe the three main types of caulk that contractors use for sealing and waterproofing.

 Painters’ caulk: is also called acrylic caulk. This caulk easily breaks down when exposed to moisture. Painters caulk is used to fill gaps of interior drywall. It should not be used for exterior caulking projects due to a lack of elasticity and poor waterproofing qualities. 

Waterproofing caulk: or silicon caulk is more difficult to apply than painters caulk but it is highly flexible. Silicon caulk come is an acid cure or neutral cure. Neutral cure doesn’t release acid when in cures, thus good for metals and wood. All silicon caulk has waterproofing qualities as they are resistant to moisture and UV rays.

 Polyurethane caulk: is similar to silicon caulk with moisture-resistant and high elasticity attributes. Although, if applied properly silicon caulk lasts about twice as long as polyurethane caulk. The benefit of polyurethane caulk is its paintability, unlike silicon caulk.  

Waterproofing Membranes:

Waterproofing membranes are either factory manufactured self-adhering sheets or liquid applied. The liquid applied membranes are purchased by the bucket, and self-adhering sheets are purchased by the roll or sheet. Self-adhering sheets eliminate the risk of improper thickness, while liquid membranes are typically applied in 2-3 coats to ensure dry film thickness (DFT). Dry time can range from 24-48 hours for each coat. Temperatures, humidity, and ventilation can impact curing times. Both membrane methods come in a variety of materials. Below we have provided a description of the major membranes available in the market.

Cementitious: this waterproofing coating is a powder that easily mixes with water before its applied. Cementitious membranes are very easy to apply but they lack in flexibility. Therefore this material is not suitable for use on contracting & expanding substrates that are exposed to high fluctuations in temperature. 

Polyurethane: is a fiber enhanced water-based membrane that offers both high elasticity and deep penetration. Polyurethane membranes are very popular with waterproofing contractors as they are easy to apply. They are often used to waterproof exterior walls, balconies, and terraces.

EPDM rubber: is a preformed elastomeric membrane made in different widths. Its properties are highly flexible, UV resistant, tensile strength, and many other qualities that make it great for waterproofing exterior surfaces. 

Hot Rubberized Asphalt: is a liquid membrane mostly used on roofs and below grade waterproofing projects. Hot rubberized asphalt reduces the risk of leaks as it eliminates seams once applied. They are applied while extremely hot and thus require a professional installer. 

Bituminous: is a liquid membrane made by mixing bitumen (a tar-like substance) with a mixture of materials including crude oil. Bituminous membranes are versatile and very easy to apply but are not eco-friendly due to the crude oil that they contain. 

PVC waterproofing: are manufactured membrane sheets made of polyvinyl chloride. PVC membranes have been used for over 50 years to protect water tanks and buildings from leaks. Their popularity comes from the fact that they allow water vapor to permeate through the membrane, eliminating the need for surface priming. 

Water Repellents:

Water Repellent is a clear deep penetrating water based sealant. This waterproofing solution doesn’t cover the substrate with a protective layer the way a waterproofing membrane does. Instead water repellents penetrate porous substrates and create a chemical reaction that prevents the absorption of water. 

Water repellants only work on porous surfaces such as stucco, masonry brick, concrete, and porous stone. They are ineffective on non-porous substrates including metal, glass, plaster, varnished wood, or any previously painted surfaces.

The risk of water intrusion is especially high for buildings made of porous materials. The destructive nature of water is that it freezes and then expands inside the concrete. The effect is tensile stress within concrete causes a spalling and scaling on the surface. Eventually, water and deicing chemicals corrode the steel and rebar which holds the concrete together.  It’s essential to use water repellents that provide a barrier preventing the porous material from absorbing water. 

Our Caulking And Waterproofing Process:

Leak Inspection & Water Testing:

The first step is to inspect and identify where the leaks are coming from. Our teams performs a visual inspection followed by water testing if the leaks could not be detected.

Caulking:

Unlike amateur contractors, RayAccess has experience caulking a wide variety of building substrates. Our technicians procure a caulk that is compatible with substrates for each specific project. We perform adhesion testing and surface preparation so the sealant and substrate have maximum contact.

Waterproofing:

Once open joints are caulked and sealed, the waterproofing can begin. Our technicians will consult with the building engineer to ensure the most durable membrane is used. We apply liquid membranes, self-adhered sheets, water repellents, or a combination. 

Exterior Painting:   

For some projects, a building painting system is performed as the final step. RayAccess is a licensed building painting contractor in the state of California.

Alternative Services:

• Wetsealing
• Window waterproofing
• Window caulking

The RayAccess Difference:

Licensed & Insured:

RayAccess carries comprehensive insurance. Our team also is a California State licensed painting contractor.  

High Access Capabilities:

RayAccess employs certified industrial rope access technicians. We also use additional access methods such as boom lifts, swing stages, and suspended scaffolding.

Warranties:

RayAccess stands behind our work. Providing 12-36 month labor warranties for waterproofing projects. In addition, we use high performance solutions that have warranties up to 10 years depending on the product.