WATREX works on homes, villas and beach houses along the East Coast Road, from Neelankarai, Palavakkam and Injambakkam down to Uthandi, Akkarai and Muttukadu. Living this close to the sea is hard on a building. Salt air, wind-driven rain and sun all work on the walls at once. Our office on OMR at Kazhipattur is a short drive across.
What the sea does to ECR buildings
The breeze off the Bay of Bengal carries salt, and the salt settles on walls and works its way into the concrete. Once it reaches the steel inside, the steel rusts and swells, and the concrete cracks along the bars or flakes off in pieces. You see it first on balcony edges, sunshades and the corners of columns.
The monsoon here arrives with wind behind it, so rain is driven straight into the seaward walls. Exterior paint chalks quickly in the salt and sun, and once it stops repelling water, damp patches appear inside within a few days of heavy rain.
Many ECR homes also have a private pool, and pools near the sea face the same salt and sun on their tiles, grout and fittings.
Homes that stand empty
Plenty of ECR houses are weekend or holiday homes. A leak can run for weeks before anyone notices, and by then the plaster is stained and the woodwork swollen. If your house stands empty for long stretches, an inspection before each monsoon is cheap insurance. We check the terrace, walls, pool and tank, and send you photos and a short report.
What we fix most on ECR
- Sidewall waterproofing with breathable coatings that stand up to salt and sun
- Epoxy injection grouting and steel treatment for cracks caused by rust
- Swimming pool waterproofing for private and villa pools
- Terrace waterproofing with reflective top coats
Neighbourhoods we cover
Neelankarai, Palavakkam, Kottivakkam, Injambakkam, Uthandi, Akkarai and Muttukadu, plus Adyar and Besant Nagar to the north and OMR inland.
Waterproofing on ECR: common questions
Why do walls near the sea crack and stain faster?
Salt in the air gets into the concrete and rusts the steel inside, which swells and cracks the concrete. Wind-driven rain and strong sun also wear out exterior paint faster than inland.
Can you check a beach house we only visit at weekends?
Yes. We can inspect before each monsoon, with your caretaker giving us access, and send you photos and a written report.
Do you waterproof private pools on ECR?
Yes. We test for leaks first, then repair fittings and cracks and reline the shell with a membrane rated for permanent immersion and chlorinated water.
