Waterproofing & Sealing
Get matched with rope access specialists for waterproofing and sealing at height — stop water ingress at source with vetted, certified contractors.
Water ingress is one of the most damaging and costly problems affecting buildings of all types. Rope access provides an ideal method for applying waterproofing treatments and sealants to building exteriors, particularly at height where other access methods are impractical or disproportionately expensive. Because the point of entry is often high on the facade and away from any safe ground access, rope is frequently the only way to treat the defect at source rather than chasing the symptoms inside.
Common waterproofing tasks carried out by rope access include resealing expansion joints, replacing failed mastic around windows and curtain walling, applying hydrophobic and water-repellent coatings to masonry and concrete, sealing cracks and movement joints, treating spalled concrete, and repairing or replacing failed tanking and parapet detailing. The ability to work at close quarters with the building fabric means that technicians can identify and address the specific points of water ingress rather than over-treating a whole elevation.
Diagnosing water ingress is rarely straightforward: water can travel a long way between where it enters and where it shows up inside. A rope access technician can inspect the facade methodically — testing each joint and seal, checking sealant adhesion, and looking for cracks, failed pointing, and defective flashings — to build an accurate picture of where the water is actually getting in before any sealing work is specified.
Rope access is particularly effective for waterproofing work because the treatment often needs to be applied from the outside of the building, at the point where water is entering. Technicians can systematically work across a facade, testing each joint and seal, and carrying out targeted repairs as they go, controlling the sequence so that newly sealed areas are not disturbed by later work above them.
Customers should expect the provider to carry out a diagnostic survey before quoting for waterproofing work, as the cause and location of water ingress must be accurately identified before a repair strategy can be developed. Our network includes specialists experienced in all types of waterproofing systems, working to IRATA certification with a minimum of £2 million public liability insurance.
Key Benefits
- ✓Targeted repairs at the source
- ✓Diagnostic survey before work begins
- ✓All waterproofing systems covered
- ✓Prevents further structural damage
- ✓External application where needed
- ✓Cost-effective vs scaffolding
What to Expect — The Process
How a typical waterproofing project runs, from first survey to handover.
- 1
Diagnostic survey
The provider inspects the facade on rope to trace where water is actually entering — testing joints, seals, cracks, pointing, and flashings — before specifying any work.
- 2
Method statement & RAMS
A risk assessment and method statement covers rigging, the sealing system, weather limits for application and curing, and exclusion zones.
- 3
Preparation
Failed mastic and defective sealant are raked out, joints cleaned, and surfaces prepared so new sealant or coating bonds correctly.
- 4
Sealing & coating
Joints are resealed, mastic renewed, cracks treated, and hydrophobic or tanking systems applied at the points of ingress, sequenced top-down.
- 5
Verification & report
Work is checked and recorded, with a photo report of the treated areas and recommendations for monitoring or further work if needed.
Pricing Guidance
Guidance only — diagnosis and sealing are usually quoted separately.
- £A two-technician rope access team typically starts from around £900 + VAT per day.
- £Targeted joint and mastic repairs are far cheaper than treating a whole facade, which is why an accurate diagnostic survey pays for itself.
- £Rope access avoids the £15,000-£25,000 a five-storey scaffold can add before any sealing is done.
- £Larger hydrophobic coating or tanking jobs are quoted by area after the diagnostic survey.
The diagnostic survey, the sealing system, and the extent of ingress all affect price. Expect a fixed quote after the cause is identified.
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