Single-component crystalline cementitious waterproofing for concrete that must resist water pressure while remaining vapor permeable.
Decision Summary
Core Uses
CEM-KOTE CW PLUS is applied to damp concrete as a cement-based coating with reactive chemicals that penetrate capillaries and micro-cracks. Unused reactive ingredients remain available in the concrete and respond when moisture returns, forming insoluble crystalline structures that block water paths.
The product is used where water pressure may act from either side of the structure, including basements, tunnels, tanks, foundations, and retaining walls. This makes it useful when exterior access is limited or when the waterproofing must be installed from the accessible side.
The industrial gray material is specified for potable-water exposure where ANSI/NSF 61 compliance is required. It is also vapor permeable, so it is not a film-only membrane trapping moisture behind a closed surface layer.
Comparison Block
Technical Data Table
| Property | Value | Source / test |
|---|---|---|
| System type | Single-component cement-based crystalline coating | Official product description |
| Coverage | 175 ft2 / 16.25 m2 per unit at 40-50 mils total | Two-coat requirement |
| Application thickness | Two coats at 20-25 mils each | Product data sheet |
| Compressive strength | 8090 psi / 55.77 MPa at 28 days | ASTM C109 |
| Potable water | ANSI/NSF 61, Industrial Gray only | Specifications / standards |
| Shelf life | 1 year for bags; 2 years for pails | Stored dry and cool |
Application / Specification Notes
Apply to damp, sound concrete where capillary waterproofing is required. Surface preparation and sample application determine actual coverage and profile suitability.
Specify two coats at 20-25 mils each, with total effective coverage calculated at 40-50 mils.
Wet curing is critical because the reactive chemistry needs moisture to develop the crystalline waterproofing mechanism.
System Compatibility / Related Product Notes
Use a flexible membrane where larger active movement or crack-bridging is the dominant requirement.
Stop active leaks before installing the crystalline waterproofing system.
Use repair mortars to restore unsound or profiled areas before waterproofing.
FAQ
CW Plus is crystalline waterproofing inside the concrete matrix. A flexible membrane is better when the project expects larger active movement or needs crack-bridging at the surface.
The reactive ingredients need moisture to grow crystals in pores and micro-cracks. Poor curing weakens the very mechanism the product is specified for.
Yes. That is one of the reasons it is useful for basements, tanks, tunnels, elevator pits, and buried structures where exterior access may be limited.
No. CW Plus is chosen for crystalline/capillary waterproofing inside damp concrete. Where the structure has active movement or wider cracks, a flexible membrane such as CEM-KOTE FLEX ST may be the better primary waterproofing layer.
Moisture is part of the crystalline reaction. Without proper damp curing, the reactive ingredients cannot fully develop inside capillaries and micro-cracks, so the main waterproofing mechanism is weakened.
Send the substrate condition, exposure, traffic, crack profile, and coating sequence. Gemite can help confirm whether this product fits the project conditions.
Request Technical GuidanceOr contact us: office@gemite.tech · +40 232 273 031
Română