Saving on energy costs throughout the year by keeping your home, office or factory cooler in summer and warmer in winter is an item that is constantly on one’s agenda when thinking of protection against the elements and the personal comfort of family and employees. But there is far more to waterproofing than this; the integrity of a building, of its fixtures and fittings, and of the furniture held within, are all held ransom by the effectiveness of the waterproofing works.
Design & Build spoke to Mr Antoine Bonello, the founder of The Resin & Membrane Centre (TRMC) – and incidentally also the President of the Malta Professional Waterproofing Applicators Association – to find out more about how this organisation and its products and services pay tribute to the utter importance of proper waterproofing.
The Resin and Membrane Centre offers a wide range of waterproofing solutions using guaranteed-to-last materials which provide the best protection. Affiliated with the Malta Professional Waterproofing and Resin Flooring Association, the Centre prides itself in ensuring that all work carried out by its team is carried out to stringent trade rules and quality standards.
Mr Bonello explained that before delving into this business over a decade ago, he had worked in the tourism industry, and whilst the shift from the tourism industry to that of construction might not seem to have any correlation, his having dealt with international clients has enabled him to build a solid foundation which ensures that the Centre’s offering is of exceptional quality and gives its clients true value for money. It also gives the Centre its core competence of being willing and able to understand what the client truly wants. And in being wiling and able to deliver it. His extensive experience in waterproofing has enabled the Centre to be able to give genuine, factual support to all areas – from the construction professionals to the DIY enthusiast. In fact the Centre team is fully geared to work with contractors on major projects which include complex commercial concerns, houses, private villas, churches, as well as rehabilitation and conservation projects.
The Centre’s team’s has studied – and studies – locally and abroad to ensure that the correct advice on the best possible solutions is provided with the best products available on the market. He emphasises that his team ensures that their clients buy a product that they are comfortable with applying themselves, safe in the knowledge that expert advice is on hand should they require information or assistance on how to best apply it. The team does not believe in the ‘one material fits all’ concept, especially when one is aware of all the various exigencies the building industry is met with. It is a firm belief at the Centre that the product needs to cater for the clients’ specific requirements –something which the Centre takes very seriously.
DIY FRIENDLY
He goes on to explain that one differentiating factor is that the Centre also offers a one-stop-shop for the DIY aficionado. Quite a few people, he explains, are happy to just buy the product and lay it themselves thus giving themselves some savings. Whilst the product lends itself well for DIY installations, this does not stop the Centre team from offering qualified advice on site. When a client reaches out, wanting to undertake the work himself, the team does not just sell him a solution but investigates what solution is best for him by asking questions and getting to know more about what is required. If necessary a site visit is organised, at no cost to the client. In this manner, the provided solution is what the client actually needs. And the Centre’s solutions are long term, guaranteed solutions that if applied well ought to last for a minimum of ten impeccable years. The Centre’s products are not sold through ironmongers either so that “we can continue to give good advice and a good product that will do what is asked of it by the customer.”
We asked how many people actually pay attention to reading the small print on the products they are about to buy. “Only a small fraction of clients pays such attention. The general norm is that we go to our ironmonger or hardware store, ask for advice believing they are experts and accept what they sell. Our product is not available at such stores since we believe that their main objective is to make a profit – essentially these stores prefer that a roof compound is purchased so that it is topped up or replaced on a yearly basis.” Bonello went on to explain that, should the Centre have adopted this strategy, the product’s price would have require an increase, since these shops would have needed to have their own profit mark-up. “The Centre’s strategy is to avoid the middleman and ensure that we give the required direct professional advice on a product that must do that which is asked from it.”
He added that information on products is widely available from supplier’s websites – this includes the product and data sheet which gives all the necessary information. The Centre and the MPWRFA (Malta Waterproofing Association) are offering tuition in the application of waterproofing – be it to contractors, individuals, DIY enthusiasts or service providers. Bonello proudly explained that through their international networks, they are able to offer such tuition, normally valued at €900 each, for free. “The mistakes we generally encounter in the industry are not through negligence but lack of knowledge. It is vital for us to reduce such instances.”
THERMAL BENEFITS
When asked as to why contractors should buy the Centre’s thermal membrane products, Mr Bonello assures me that the Centre’s products are the very best in the business. He explains that his conviction of this is made possible through the reputable and reliable research that the product has undergone. To the contractor or developer applying this product, the advantages are simple – it lasts longer, their mind is at rest that no problems will arise with tenants and their reputation will not be ruined. Furthermore, with the new legislation that has been adopted with regards to house ratings – thermal membrane increases the value of property – “this is certainly a good selling point for developers!” We asked whether in order to ensure a good installation, a minimum amount of liquid per square metre is required to be used. Is this relevant to ensuring an installation that will last for the amount of time guaranteed?
The Centre’s strategy is to avoid the middleman and ensure that we give the required direct professional advice
“Studies carried out by Italian laboratories in relation to the use of material recommended that for the Mediterranean climate, a minimum of 2 kilogrammes of liquid resin membrane per square metre should be used. In Malta, people generally just give two coats which translates to approximately 600 – 700 grams – this is definitely not enough to withstand heat, building movements, traffic.
Mr Bonello went on to explain that other factors are to be considered. Does the roof require netting? If a roof exceeds 100 metres squared; a layout that is becoming frequent with modern buildings, then a proper fibre glass reinforcing net is required together with the liquid resin membrane to bestow the right strength and elasticity especially in corners and over expanding joints.”
Mr Bonello added that nowadays one has to be very careful when it comes to waterproofing. There are many companies or individuals who contracted or subcontracted their works to unqualified and unethical parties and suffered a series of unwanted damages due to bad works and materials. “Over 80% of building damage originates from water intake. It is always distressing to witness water dripping down the ceiling, especially on a stormy night. We are professionals and we take our work very seriously and for the benefit of our customers all our installers are certified and members of the Malta Professional Waterproofing and Resin Flooring Association.”
He continued explaining that “once applied, you only need to give it a refresh every 7 or 12 years depending on the use of the roof it is applied to. All is eventually needed is a good wash with soap and water and removal of any dust and debris. Any cracks or openings will be sealed directly with the material -though its not a common occurrence. When this happens usually in DIY practice the problem is twofold- either not enough materials were applied or there was a bad preparation process in that the surface would not have been cleaned properly or primer would not have been given in an attempt to save money.”
A question that some people might ask is whether it is just a matter of protecting roofs from water seepage, or would it be a case of also protecting walls from possible seepage? Bonello tells me that water can seep in from anywhere and that is why the Centre specialises in all types of waterproofing, so not just roofs but also walls of bricks, stone. And since Malta’s roofs are constantly subject to sun, thermal membrane is the perfect solution.
Waterproofing comes with a perceived high price tag, and when asked if The Centre is expensive, Bonello calmly emphasises that the objective of The Centre is not to be considered the cheapest on the island but the company that offers great value for their clients’ money. Ultimately TRMC wants people to recommend them, as they believe that word of mouth is the best testimonial. Unsatisfied with giving an average result, they seek to ensure that their products are used to their maximum capabilities.
Over 80% of building damage originates from water intake
SOLUTIONS FOR ALL EXIGENCIES
The Resin and Membrane Centre offers a wide range of products mostly directed to the building Industry. “At our showroom one can find a vast range of products intended to cater any type of exigency” he added. TRMC brings together a team which has vast experience in surface maintenance that last. And it uses the best products on the market to ensure that the solutions offered to clients are amongst the best. TRMC has a vast range of Naici products which come with a guarantee of quality. Naici have 30 years’ experience in the building industry and are leaders in resin flooring, resin waterproofing systems, swimming pool finishes, industrial cleaning products and many other building materials. Naici products also safeguard the environment and meet the strict environment standard certifications on low emissions and production materials used. And the Centre works with those products Naici have purposely made for our hard Maltese climatic conditions, which obviously gives our client an extra advantage over other brands which are produced for the colder northern climes.
He continued to explain that many of their competitors’ products on the market are based upon plastic or acrylic, and not on thermal material, unlike the Centre’s product base. These are good for holding water but not for keeping it….. meaning that when they are subjected to a constant time of wet weather as we have in Malta they then start to deteriorate.
With resin-based products as supplied by TRMC this does not happen and additionally it contains a high level of UV resistance with thermal insulation too. This greatly reduces the transmission of the heat absorption from the sun into the house, thereby even reducing greatly the need for air-conditioning and a lower utilities bill at the end of it all. It is therefore able to stop up to 90% of the heat from getting into the house through the roof. This is confirmed by Italy’s top testing laboratory, Istituto Giordano, while the older bitumen based system is proven to increase heat by over 80%. Another advantage is for buildings with solar panels, since the membrane reflects more rays on to the solar panels, thus resulting in more intake and reducing consumption costs in more ways than one.
“Our knowledge today has put us in a position where we can offer very professional and technical advice to clients for many different situations and construction methods. This has prompted our range of services and products to constantly grow, and we are introducing along with our our suppliers new products for our Mediterranean climate based on on-going research.”
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