FOOTBRIDGE WATERPROOFING
Polyurea and Polyurethane Coatings for Better Footbridges
OVER COATINGS FOR OVERPASSAGES
Throughout time bridges have been some of the most impressive feats of combined artistry and engineering, and can exist as monuments to human achievement. The Golden Gate Bridge, The Forth Bridge, Tower Bridge; the list goes on. But while there’s no doubt about the beauty or the utility of these urban arteries, they’re often not the bridges that impact us most on a daily basis. This honor goes to footbridges, the unsung hero of our community infrastructure enabling safe passage across roads, railways, and water sources. But for all their importance footbridges are often left unprotected and poorly maintained. Not only does this result in shorter lifetimes and more dangerous structures, but it also means that footbridges end up costing an arm and a leg while simultaneously becoming your city’s favorite new eyesore. The primary culprit for their premature end is water damage; water can corrode metal components and infiltrate concrete to compromise its structural integrity. And unfortunately, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So to protect footbridges and support our communities, footbridges can be coated with all-purpose waterproof coatings like polyurea and polyurethane.
WHY DO FOOTBRIDGES
NEED WATERPROOFING?
Footbridges are most commonly built of concrete and metal so they’re often thought of as inherently waterproof. However, this is only a common misconception; concrete is actually a porous material that can absorb and retain water much to the detriment of its structural integrity. Moreover, metals can be highly susceptible to corrosion, where oxidative chemicals react with surface materials to slowly but surely degrade them until the point of hazard or failure. Waterproofing eliminates these concerns while providing other benefits as well. Footbridge waterproofing can be used to apply a textured finish to pedestrian walkways that make them slip- and skid-resistant, making it easier to keep your feet on the ground even on a rainy day. At the same time, installing high-performance waterproofing like polyurea and polyurethane can make it easier to keep bridges clean, and affords greater design flexibility so that these essential structures can be as aesthetic as they are functional. So if footbridges are to last as long as possible, and perform their job safely, footbridge waterproofing is an essential step.
