Latin America Waterproofing Systems and Building Envelope Solutions Outlook

Introduction

Waterproofing systems serve an essential role in prolonging the life of buildings in the varied climate zones of Latin America. The constant exposure to high rainfall, humidity, and temperature changes severely affect the building outer surfaces thereby creating a need for tougher waterproofing solutions instead of single chemical products. Therefore, waterproofing at the system level is becoming a separate procurement category in construction and renovation projects.

Urban residential and commercial developments in Mexico City, So Paulo, and Bogot are increasingly including the specification of complete envelope protection which comprises roofs, facades, basements, and podium decks. In June 2024, Cyrela Brasil used liquid applied polyurethane membrane systems in several high rise residential projects in So Paulo to address the risk of recurring leakage due to heavy seasonal rainfall.

Waterproofing manufacturers nowadays present themselves as system providers who besides membranes, primers, detailing accessories also give installation guidance. For example, Fosroc and Mapei have enlarged their technical service teams in Latin America to help contractors during the installation, thereby lowering the risk of failure.

Waterproofing is largely determined by the water infiltration issues of the old buildings as far as the retrofit projects are concerned. In Chile, owners of commercial buildings are progressively resorting to spray-applied waterproofing systems to avoid the inconvenience of structural demolition. The emphasis on the application demand has distinguished the waterproofing market from the overall construction chemicals.

Refer to the Latin America Construction Chemicals Market report for deeper insights into waterproofing chemical segments and supplier positioning.

Major Drivers, Trends and Challenges

Climate change will remain the principal reason for boosting the demand. People have become more aware of how buildings and homes get damaged by moisture due to irregular rainfall patterns and increased flooding events. System- based procurement is one of the trends.

Developers are seeking single-source waterproofing solutions that minimize the potential for interface risks and warranty disputes. The challenges include installer skill gaps and price competition from cheap products. Most waterproofing failures are due to incorrect application rather than the quality of the material, which is why suppliers have to allocate funds for training programs.

The challenges are installer skill gaps and price competition from low-quality products. Most cases of waterproofing failures are due to poor application rather than the quality of the materials, which leads to suppliers having to invest in training programs. However, the demand for integrated waterproofing systems is projected to keep rising over time, especially in the scenarios of dense urban markets and infrastructure projects.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition and Scope
3. Climate Driven Demand Factors
4. System Based Waterproofing Models
5. Residential and Commercial Applications
6. Retrofit and Rehabilitation Demand
7. Execution Risks and Skill Constraints
8. Outlook and Strategic Opportunities

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