What you need to know to decide how to dilute bitumen mastic. Why can’t you dilute bitumen with diesel fuel? The best way to smear hot bitumen

Today, there are many types of work that require material such as bitumen. Each work performed related to bitumen is specific and requires certain knowledge and experience related to the use of bitumen itself.

Depending on the area of application, bitumen is divided into:

solid;
liquid;
bitumen mastics;
polymer;
rubber.

Without adding other components to the bitumen itself, it does not have a high degree of suitability both for use and for further use. This is due to the fact that in its usual form it quickly hardens and becomes viscous, which prevents it from being applied evenly. Also, after application, cracks may form on the layer.

What and how to dilute bitumen?

When preserving wood, more liquid bitumens are used. When waterproofing roofs, foundations and other things, they are thicker. In order to obtain the required consistency, you need to perform the following steps.

The bitumen must be crushed. It can be chopped into pieces with an ax. And it is advisable to do this in the shade or indoors to avoid direct contact sun rays on it, otherwise it becomes soft and more difficult to break.

Then we place the chopped pieces in a bucket and then, depending on the degree of fire hazard of the object at which the work is being carried out. Or we make a small fire, just a small one because on a strong flame, the bitumen can both flare up and coke. Or, using an electric extension cord, we install the electric stove at a safe distance, observing safety precautions.

After heating the bitumen to a boil, you must wait until the foam leaves it; this is moisture when boiling; it becomes dehydrated. After this, remove the bucket from heating and add to it the existing 50% bitumen, 30% solvent, 10% oil, 10% waste. It is this composition that will help increase the flash point and obtain a homogeneous mass, which will subsequently be easier to work with. And also, due to the absence of pores in it, it will be applied to the surface with better quality.

After adding the components, put the bucket on heat again and stir until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Upon receipt of which the bitumen is ready for work.

Why can’t bitumen be diluted with diesel fuel?

There are several reasons why you should not dilute bitumen with diesel fuel.

The first of which is a noticeable decrease in the combustion temperature.

The second reason is the high degree of flammability and volatility; most of it will quickly evaporate before it has time to dissolve anything.

Also, one of the disadvantages of this dilution method is that when diesel fuel is poured into bitumen, it cannot be poured back, as can be done with a solvent. After all, due to the fact that it is lighter than bitumen, it settles on the surface and after mixing and settling, it floats up and can be drained.

To summarize, it can be noted that the method of diluting bitumen with diesel fuel is both dangerous and not particularly effective. Therefore, it is worth working with recommended solvents for certain bitumens.

The foundation of the house is subject to constant destructive influence from various factors environment. Particularly active is the water that is contained in the soil and penetrates into it after precipitation. When constructing the foundation, it is necessary to provide additional protection from this influence. Most often used bitumen mastic.

Why is coating waterproofing with bitumen necessary?

In its classic form, bitumen mastic is a mixture of several components that reliably and tightly cement cracks in the surface of the base and prevent moisture from penetrating into the foundation structure.

The mastic hardens quickly due to the use of various solvents and other elements that ensure the effectiveness of the solution. Using mastic it is possible to create highly effective seamless surfaces. This is true for the roof and walls, and certainly for the foundation.

Before using mastic, it is important to know how and with what to dissolve the resin for painting the foundation. The effectiveness of the subsequent operation of the protective layer depends on the correct combination of elements.

How to dilute bitumen mastic

To find out exactly how to dilute resin for painting the foundation, you need to understand what indicators you want to get. The proportions in which the components in the mastic are combined determine not only the thickness, but also the performance characteristics of the solution. Among the substances used to dissolve the mastic, the following are used:

Gasoline (kerosene).
White Spirit.
Gasoline galoshes (Gasoline solvent for the rubber industry).

Choosing the right substance and amount of material that needs to be used to dilute bitumen for the foundation means preparing optimal material for foundation processing.

What additives are used to dilute mastic?

It is possible to add to the created solution various options fillers. Therefore, the builder should decide what parameters he wants to achieve in the end.

Now the most popular types of mastic are the following:

bitumen-rubber mastic,
polyurethane,
latex,
oil, rubber.

If we take bitumen-rubber mastic, then its composition is based directly on bitumen and polymer.

Polyurethane and rubber form additional plasticity in the solution, in which the resulting film is not only durable, but can stretch approximately 20 times.

The use of rubber to prepare a cold mixture allows you to create a material that does not require preparation before use. The mastic is applied evenly and is uniform and durable.

The addition of oil components helps prevent the material from hardening. Such compositions are necessary for waterproofing pipes and pipes that will be placed underground.

Cooking features

The process of making bitumen mastic is not complicated; you just need to choose the right ingredients and follow the basic rules of preparation.

To complete the work, the following elements are required:

pieces of bitumen, cleaned of contaminants;
specially selected fillers,
various plasticizers.

For example, to create waterproofing you need to have approximately 10 kilograms of mastic. This will require approximately 8 kg of bitumen, 1 kg of filler and 500 grams of plasticizer.

For cooking mastic, durable cauldrons with a wall thickness of 3 mm or more are selected. There should also be a lid. Thanks to the heating of the walls, the bitumen warms up evenly.

The boiler should be no more than 70% loaded - otherwise the mastic may start to splash out. For cooking, the following rules must be strictly followed:

The boiler is not placed above the fire, but is installed to the side.
The temperature should be at 190 degrees, which does not lead to decomposition of the material.
Temperature changes are unacceptable, which can lead to the formation of a heterogeneous mass of mastic.
To prepare the mixture as quickly as possible, it is necessary to divide the bitumen into small pieces.
Cooking the mastic should occur slowly and evenly.
Filler and additives should also be crushed.
The addition of components is carried out gradually.
The solution is stirred regularly and the forming foam is periodically removed.
After the foam disappears, fillers can be added.
After adding, the resulting solution is thoroughly stirred - and the bitumen mastic is ready for use!

Now that you have learned how to dilute bitumen mastic for the foundation and how to prepare it, you should know how to apply it to the surface correctly.

How to apply bitumen mastic correctly

After preparing the mastic, it should be applied correctly to the surface. There are 2 methods for this:

Application by hand.
Mechanized method of application using special tools.

The manual method of work is optimal when performing a small amount of work. For large work areas manual technology impractical, so they use mechanisms. The tools are also used to work in hard-to-reach places.

Before application, the surface to be treated should be prepared. The surface is cleaned and thoroughly dried. After this, a thin layer of primer is applied, which ensures interaction with the mastic.

Once the mixture is ready and sufficiently warmed up, you can proceed directly to application. To do this, use a regular roller or brush - the choice of a specific tool depends on the nature of the surface, volume and complexity of the configuration of the foundation, wall or roof. Sometimes a wide spatula is used for application.

The layers of mastic are applied with an overlap, which should be approximately 10 centimeters. This prevents the formation of empty parts that will be exposed to moisture penetration.

The application of the next layer of mastic begins after the previous one has completely hardened.

The use of bitumen mastic for waterproofing the base serves important factor to protect the structure and prevent the formation of microcracks and damage.

When I needed to waterproof the garage roof, then I realized from my own experience that it is not only possible, but also necessary to save on materials such as bitumen, or rather bitumen mastic.

I would like to immediately correct the question, since I myself was faced with the fact that bitumen and bitumen mastic different materials. They differ in that bitumen is essentially a natural or modified material, and bitumen mastic is a material prepared to work with certain impurities.

There is natural bitumen, this fraction is formed from oil under conditions where it is not proper storage, essentially it is oxidized oil.

Bitumen can also be obtained by vacuum distillation, but this is a complex chemical operation that can only be performed with a special industrial equipment. When processing oil, namely its concentration, residual or precipitated bitumen is obtained.

So, it is not possible to produce bitumen at home; all recipes based on making bitumen from waste oil are nothing more than thickening the oil, and the final product cannot be called bitumen.

You also need to be clear that there are two professionally prepared materials in stores:

bitumen primer
bitumen mastic

The primer is better than mastic, it dries faster, has higher anti-corrosion properties, higher penetrating properties, can be applied to a damp surface, and adheres well. But primer is inferior to mastic in fragility.

So, you can get bitumen primer or mastic at home; you don’t need to spend money on buying already liquefied mastic. By the way, you can achieve the desired consistency, which is suitable specifically for certain jobs.

The recipe for making bitumen (or rather finished material) to cover the garage roof:

You need to take 85% of the bulk of ordinary hard bitumen and crush it into small pieces.

You need to gradually pour all the bitumen into a metal container, which is heated on... for example, a fire or stove.

Next, without waiting for the bitumen to warm up, you need to add a plasticizer, the cheapest substitute is used machine oil, you only need 5% of it, no more, since the finished product can turn out liquid.

It is advisable to fill the remaining 10% with some kind of filler for more durable insulation. Personally, I added asbestos chips there, a neighbor advised me to do this, its marking A6-K-30 looks something like this:

If you need to fill the seams, then when ready, you can pour cement into the mortar, not much 1-3% of the total mass, preferably the highest quality. It will give hardness and better grip on the surface.

Now about the cooking conditions:

The solution in the container should be no more than 60-70%, since it will have to be constantly stirred.
It is not permissible for dirt to be present in the solution, as it may cause cracks.
The cooking process should last a minimum of 3 hours and should not take place at high temperatures.
Add fractions gradually as they melt and mix.
Stir the mixture constantly and most importantly remove the foam that forms from the surface.

After the bitumen mastic is ready, it must be constantly heated, but it must be used within the next 12-18 hours.

Do not pour a lot into cracks and crevices at once; try to pour in a thin stream and over a long period of time.

Effective protection against the destructive effects of moisture on concrete, metal, wood and reinforced concrete structures is bitumen waterproofing. It is used for coating foundations, concrete floors, walls and ceilings of basements, interfloor ceilings, treatment of bathrooms, showers, etc. This prevents moisture from penetrating into the house through small pores and cracks, ensuring the durability of the structure.

Features of using bitumen waterproofing

To treat the main elements of the house, solid and liquefied bitumen, bitumen-rubber and bitumen-polymer waterproofing mastics are used. When working with hard materials it is necessary to melt them. In this case, the question is “how to dilute bitumen mastic?” does not arise. During the smelting process, the bitumen is dehydrated. In addition, the concrete base itself is thoroughly dried before applying waterproofing. Otherwise, there is a risk that when hot resin hits the surface of the concrete, boiling will occur and bubbles will form under the insulating layer. This means that the waterproofing will not clog the cracks and pores of the concrete.

Hot compounds can be applied with a wide brush or brush, overlapping strips of 10-15 cm. The only drawback of working with hot bitumen mastic is the high hardening speed.

Liquefied waterproofing does not require constant heating. Before you begin application, you should dilute the bitumen mastic with a solvent. Most often, low-octane motor gasoline acts as a solvent. Polymerization of the liquefied composition occurs 24 hours after application, provided that the work is carried out on outdoors. When choosing how to dilute bitumen mastic, you should remember that gasoline is a flammable substance, and its vapors are explosive. During waterproofing work, the possibility of open fire should be excluded, and smoking is strictly prohibited.

How to dilute bitumen-polymer mastic?

Bitumen-polymer waterproofing can be used at low temperatures. In addition, solvents can be added to them. When deciding how to dilute bitumen mastic, choose one of the options below:

petrol
White Spirit
kerosene

You can also use galosh gasoline, carefully monitoring the consistency of the mixture. Waterproofing is applied with a brush. Each subsequent layer is laid 24 hours after applying the previous one.

How to dilute bitumen primer?

The use of this composition ensures reliable adhesion waterproofing materials to rough and porous surfaces. The primer is used for priming concrete, cement-sand screeds immediately before laying self-adhesive, weld-on roofing and waterproofing materials.

Bitumen primer is a solution of petroleum bitumen with a softening point above +80°C in special organic solvents. This composition is characterized by rapid drying and high penetrating ability.

Before applying the bitumen primer, it is necessary to dilute it with a solvent (kerosene, nefras, gasoline) in a ratio of 1:1 or 1:1.5 by weight.

The composition should be applied without preheating using a nylon brush or brush. If necessary, it is possible to create several layers of waterproofing.

Mastics may have various properties and characteristics - this is determined by different additives in the mixture. Initially, bitumen and rubber-bitumen mastics are thick. And for effective use they must be diluted. How to do it right? Let's see how to dilute bitumen mastic and how to prepare it.

Each material is classified according to its composition according to different criteria. Thus, the compositions are divided according to the conditions of use, as well as additives. Mastics differ in technological features. They differ in their ability to operate at a certain temperature and conditions that ensure the process of hardening and softening. For example, hot compositions should first be heated to temperatures of 160 degrees and above. After this, you can use the finished product for insulation work. Cold mixtures are used differently. In this case, you will have to make a solution. How to dilute rubber-bitumen mastic depends on the application method and other factors. Cold types of mastics should not be heated. Solvents are highly volatile and will evaporate from the surface during the curing process.

According to the method of preparation, all compositions are divided into one- and two-component. Materials from the first group are prepared as simply as possible. The mass can be used immediately without the need to add any ingredients.

Two-component materials must be prepared, after which they are ready for use. How bitumen mastic can be diluted depends on where and how the insulation work will be carried out.

What is used for breeding?

Depending on where the material will be applied, the proportions and density are changed. Otherwise, the composition simply will not be able to stay on the surface before it dries completely. Mastics are different, which means the products for breeding will also be different.

Most often used to dilute materials:

Motor gasoline or kerosene.
White Spirit.
Gasoline "Galosh".

In most cases, low-octane gasolines are used as diluents. The polymerization process of the dissolved composition takes 24 hours after application. This is provided that the work is performed outdoors.
When choosing how to dilute bitumen mastic, you should definitely remember that even low-octane gasolines are flammable liquids. Vapors from any fuel are flammable. In progress waterproofing works Do not use open fire.

As for the proportions, they must correspond to the volume of the base used. If you violate them, the mixture will dry out more slowly or the fluidity of the solution will increase. As a result, adhesion will decrease or be lost. beneficial features. In this case, the material will not have protective functions.

How can you dilute rubber-bitumen mastic? There are other materials. This is turpentine, any types of organic solvents. It is not recommended to use acetone or liquids based on it for these purposes. Some craftsmen dissolve mastic in diesel fuel. As a result, the mixture turns out to be heterogeneous. However, this solution fills all cracks and irregularities with the highest quality possible. If the mastic is liquid, it has better adhesion and good insulating properties.

Elastic and special additives in mastics

Gasoline, kerosene, white spirit are universal solvents. But when choosing what to dilute rubber-bitumen mastic with, the first step is to decide what characteristics are needed from the solution. Depending on the additives used in the composition, materials are divided into:

Bitumen-rubber.
Bitumen-polyurethane.
Bitumen-latex.
Oil and rubber mixtures.

As you can see, bitumen is present in the composition of each material. But additives are different everywhere – hence the different properties. So, with the addition of polyurethane or rubber, you can get additional elasticity. This is important for most insulation work.
As a result, a strong film is formed that is difficult to break. The film can easily be stretched 20 times or more without being deformed. One of the options for diluting cachuco-bitumen mastic for roofing is motor gasoline.

Anti-corrosion mastic made of bitumen with oil

If you add oil to the composition, the resulting mixture will not harden. This is important for processing pipes and other metal underground communications. With the addition of oil materials, a sticky but not hard film is obtained. It will not crack and will be able to maintain its integrity for quite a long time. This solution is not afraid of low and high temperatures. This is an ideal solution for treating heating systems. But for roofing works he doesn't fit.

Additives to mastic for roofing work

Experts, answering the question of how to dilute bitumen mastic for roofing, recommend adding, in addition to solvents, crumb rubber. This coating will be strong and durable. And it can be applied to any type of surface. The material prepared in this way can withstand mechanical stress, shock and vibration.
If you add rubber to the sucking mixture, you can prepare a cold mixture that does not require heating. In addition to high waterproofing properties, the material also acquires antiseptic characteristics along with high heat resistance.

Also for roofing work, you can add liquid latex in the form of an emulsion to the mastic. This is nothing more than synthetic rubber. The product is extremely easy to prepare and apply, and has excellent performance characteristics. The mixture is ideal for roofing work.

How to prepare the right solution

An important point in the process of preparing mastic is the method of applying it to the surface to be treated. The protective solution can be applied either manually or using special equipment. The manual application method is relevant when the amount of work is small. If it is necessary to apply the composition over a large area, then mechanized application methods are used. The method of mixing depends on how the mastic will be applied. How to dilute rubber-bitumen mastic? Before you start preparing the mixture, you need to prepare the surface on which the composition will be applied.
If peeling is observed on the coating, it should be thoroughly cleaned and then dried. After this, it is recommended to apply a layer of primer that can interact with mastics. These primers are called bitumen primers. The primer is already on sale finished form. But you can prepare it yourself. Next we will tell you exactly how.

How to prepare a primer

The use of a primer is a guarantee of reliable adhesion of waterproofing materials to porous and non-porous materials. smooth surfaces. The composition is suitable for priming concrete foundations, cement-sand screeds.
The primer is a solution of petroleum bitumen. The softening temperature of the material is 80 degrees or more. For those who do not know how to dilute bitumen mastic, experts recommend using organic solvents. What could it be? This is kerosene, nefras, gasoline. They are added in proportions of 1 to 1 or 1 to 5 by weight of the base.

To make a primer you will need clean bitumen - several pieces are needed. Next, the bars are dissolved in gasoline or used motor oil. First, a solvent is poured into the prepared container - gasoline or waste. Next, the liquid is heated, and then crushed bitumen is added to the container. The solution is heated to temperatures from 190 to 200 degrees. During the heating process, you need to constantly stir the mass. Next, prepare a container that can withstand high temperatures. Its volume is determined by the amount of solution. For small areas a bucket will do. It is enough for several square meters.

Conclusion

So, we found out how to dilute bitumen mastic for the foundation. Construction specialists in preparation insulating material They give different advice. So, when using gasoline and diesel, lumps may appear. But you need to dilute it so that the mixture is not excessively liquid - this entails a large consumption of mastic.

How to dilute bitumen in private construction or renovation? As you can see, this issue still remains relevant when constructing foundation protection and when repairing old roofs. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at this, which is what we tried to do in this article.

hard bitumens;
liquefied bitumen;
bitumen-rubber mastics;
bitumen-polymer mastics.

How to melt lump bitumen

Firstly, it hardens too quickly.

Secondly, it does not fill the pores too tightly - it is too viscous and dense.

Thirdly, very soon the layer begins to crack. Therefore, when working with bitumen, the following algorithm is usually followed:

It remains to add a couple of clarifications. Firstly, do not forget that bitumen is a flammable material and can burst into flames if overheated or too intensely heated. It is useless to extinguish it with water; you need to keep a tin lid on hand to stop the access of oxygen. You need to be especially careful after adding diesel fuel: in its pure form, bitumen ignites at 230 degrees, with a solvent the flash point is significantly reduced.

Liquefied bitumen

Bitumen mastics

When restoring a roof or insulating a basement, the question often arises: how to dilute the bitumen? Roofing on new buildings is rarely filled with it, since today there are many more attractive options for insulating and covering it. But on old houses, over the decades of their existence, such a layer of roofing material has accumulated that, apart from bitumen, there are practically no restoration options left (after all, it is sometimes not even possible to remove multiple layers).

Dismantling roofing felt “pies” is so labor-intensive that people try to push it as far into the future as possible, especially if the building is not residential - a garage, barn, summer cuisine, extension. And for coating waterproofing of foundations, bitumen still remains one of the most popular materials - cheap, quite reliable, available for independent use, even if the work involves hard physical labor and some danger in carrying out it. True, if the goal is to obtain the most reliable foundation waterproofing possible, it is better to glue waterproofing or the same roofing material over the bitumen. Left alone, the bitumen coating quickly cracks and begins to let moisture through.

How to dilute bitumen in private construction or renovation? As you can see, this issue still remains relevant when constructing foundation protection and when repairing old roofs. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at this, which is what we tried to do in this article.

Features of bitumen processing

Gone are the days when bitumen existed only in one, solid, variety. Now there is quite a wide variety of waterproofing materials of this type:

hard bitumens;
liquefied bitumen;
bitumen-rubber mastics;
bitumen-polymer mastics.

All solid variations require melting. It is impossible to dilute bricks in any solvent. To some extent, bitumen will transfer into it, but it will be quite insignificant. Often this solution is used as a primer - a primer for bitumen waterproofing.

The primer is made as follows:

Bitumen breaks into small pieces. It is advisable to carry out this operation in the shade - when heated in the sun, it becomes sluggish and splits reluctantly.
The fragments are immersed in diesel fuel or used oil. By volume - so that the solvent covers the pieces completely, but does not form a large layer above it.
When the liquid turns the color of bitumen, it is ready to be used as a primer.

How to melt lump bitumen

If we consider solid bitumen as a waterproofing material, then it must be melted before use. And this step cannot be avoided. Moreover, in its pure form, bitumen is not very suitable for application (and continued existence with operation).

Firstly, it hardens too quickly.

Secondly, it does not fill the pores too tightly - it is too viscous and dense.

Thirdly, very soon the layer begins to crack. Therefore, when working with bitumen, the following algorithm is usually followed:

Bitumen, broken into pieces, melts into metal barrel over low heat. Moreover, the fire should be as slow as possible: with rapid combustion, in some places the material already begins to coke from overheating, while in others it still remains solid.
After melting, it is left on the fire until foam stops appearing, that is, dehydration stops.
Filler is poured into the container, which is best choice is dissolved asbestos, but it is quite difficult to find. So usually cement, chalk, gypsum (including alabaster), talc, ground clay, etc. are taken. Pursued goal: preventing the formation of pores by coating.
When the filler is mixed, a solvent is added - it will prevent the bitumen from hardening too quickly.
The approximate ratio of the components is as follows: half the volume is bitumen, 30% is diesel fuel, the rest is fillers.

It remains to add a couple of clarifications

Firstly, do not forget that bitumen is a flammable material and can burst into flames if overheated or too intensely heated. It is useless to extinguish it with water; you need to keep a tin lid on hand to stop the access of oxygen. You need to be especially careful after adding diesel fuel: in its pure form, bitumen ignites at 230 degrees, with a solvent the flash point is significantly reduced.

Second: many suggest using waste, gasoline or kerosene as a solvent.

If we can completely agree with the first option, then the last 2 are no good: the substances are very volatile and flammable. Most of will evaporate before it fulfills the task of the solvent, the rest will increase the flammability significantly.

Liquefied bitumen

There is no need to heat it, it is already in a consistency suitable for application. However, it may thicken over time. In this case, the following are used to dilute it:.

low octane gasoline. On the one hand, it is a cheaper and more accessible solvent, but the fire hazard is high, as is evaporation. The presence of open sources of fire (in particular, smoking) is unacceptable, and there is a risk of inhaling vapors to the point of poisoning;
White spirit is more expensive, but much safer.
The solvent must be added little by little, stirring constantly. Remember that it is lighter than bitumen and collects on the surface. If you accidentally overfilled it, you can wait for separation and simply drain off the excess.

Bitumen mastics

The solvents remain the same regardless of whether the second component is rubber or polymers. Mastics are good because they can be used when it’s already cold outside. In addition, they do not need heating. However, at low temperatures, mastics become too viscous. Solvents are added to overcome their reaction to frost. You can use them as:

gasoline - works great, but the mentioned disadvantages do not go away;
kerosene. Preferably an aviation one, which may cause problems. Household ones are not clean enough and can deteriorate the quality of insulation. In addition, it, like the previous position, is flammable and volatile;
White Spirit. The only downside is the cost. Despite its relative cheapness, it is needed in large quantities, so it will cost a pretty penny;
turpentine: thins mastic quite well, inexpensive, less volatile and flammable than gasoline and kerosene, but the smell is very characteristic;
nefras, also known as gasoline “galoshes”;
acetone, solvent, 646. The most suitable solvent will be the one recommended for a specific type of mastic by its manufacturer. So before deciding how to dilute bitumen or mastic from it, read the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Bitumen for foundation

The foundation of the house is subject to constant destructive influence from various environmental factors. Particularly active is the water that is contained in the soil and penetrates into it after precipitation. When constructing the foundation, it is necessary to provide additional protection from this influence. The most commonly used is bitumen mastic.

Why is it necessary? coating waterproofing bitumen

Purpose of bitumen

How to dilute bitumen mastic

Bitumen thinner

Gasoline (kerosene).
White Spirit.
Gasoline galoshes (Gasoline solvent for the rubber industry).

Correctly choosing the substance and amount of material that needs to be used to dilute bitumen for the foundation means preparing the optimal material for processing the foundation.

What additives are used to dilute mastic?

It is possible to add various filler options to the created solution. Therefore, the builder should decide what parameters he wants to achieve in the end.

Now the most popular types of mastic are the following:

bitumen-rubber mastic,
polyurethane,
latex,
oil, rubber.

If we take bitumen-rubber mastic, then its composition is based directly on bitumen and polymer.

Polyurethane and rubber form additional plasticity in the solution, in which the resulting film is not only durable, but can stretch approximately 20 times.

Types of bitumen

The use of rubber to prepare a cold mixture allows you to create a material that does not require preparation before use. The mastic is applied evenly and is uniform and durable.

The addition of oil components helps prevent the material from hardening. Such compositions are necessary for waterproofing pipes and other structures that will be placed underground.

Cooking features

The process of making bitumen mastic is not complicated; you just need to choose the right ingredients and follow the basic rules of preparation.

To complete the work, the following elements are required:

pieces of bitumen, cleaned of contaminants;
specially selected fillers,
various plasticizers.

For example, to create waterproofing you need to have approximately 10 kilograms of mastic. This will require approximately 8 kg of bitumen, 1 kg of filler and 500 grams of plasticizer.

For cooking mastic, durable cauldrons with a wall thickness of 3 mm or more are selected. There should also be a lid. Thanks to the heating of the walls, the bitumen warms up evenly.

The boiler should be no more than 70% loaded - otherwise the mastic may start to splash out. For cooking, the following rules must be strictly followed:

The boiler is not placed above the fire, but is installed to the side.
The temperature should be at 190 degrees, which does not lead to decomposition of the material.
Temperature changes are unacceptable, which can lead to the formation of a heterogeneous mass of mastic.
To prepare the mixture as quickly as possible, it is necessary to divide the bitumen into small pieces.
Cooking the mastic should occur slowly and evenly.
Filler and additives should also be crushed.
The addition of components is carried out gradually.
The solution is stirred regularly and the forming foam is periodically removed.
After the foam disappears, fillers can be added.
After adding, the resulting solution is thoroughly stirred - and the bitumen mastic is ready for use!

Now that you have learned how to dilute bitumen mastic for the foundation and how to prepare it, you should know how to apply it to the surface correctly.

How to apply bitumen mastic correctly

After preparing the mastic, it should be applied correctly to the surface. There are 2 methods for this:

Application by hand.
Mechanized method of application using special tools.

The manual method of work is optimal when performing a small amount of work. For large areas of work, manual technology is impractical, so mechanisms are used. The tools are also used to work in hard-to-reach places.

The layers of mastic are applied with an overlap, which should be approximately 10 centimeters. This prevents the formation of empty parts that will be exposed to moisture penetration.

The application of the next layer of mastic begins after the previous one has completely hardened.

The use of bitumen mastic for waterproofing the base is an important factor in protecting the structure and preventing the formation of microcracks and damage.