Tesco - Innovative structural car park refurbishment

The Tesco Chester car park was in urgent need of repair. Failing asphalt was causing water to leak into the store below. A new waterproofing system was required to enhance the car park’s structural integrity and increase drainage capacity.

The refurbishment also demanded repairs to the concrete deck, which was cracked along the joints and had a soft surface filled with voids. If left untreated, these voids would have resulted in pinholes throughout the finished waterproofing system.

Following removal of the failing asphalt, Wecryl 821, a low-viscosity concrete stabiliser, was applied to the concrete deck, preventing pin holes forming throughout the system.

Larger cracks in the deck were filled with Wecryl 810 Flexible Putty prior to applying more than 5,000 linear metres of banding. Expansion joints were also installed throughout the structure, enhancing durability.

Following the preparation of the concrete deck, WestWood’s Wecryl 279 waterproofing was applied, providing flexibility and exceptional crack-bridging properties.

Tested according to Class OS 10-20 of the DAfStb guidelines, Wecryl 279 is resistant to mechanical stress, acids and alkali. Additionally, the system allows for customised surface designs, including a wide range of colours, patterns, and markings – ideal for the car park application.

Large areas of ponding water, caused by inadequate drainage, posed a potential health and safety risk during the winter. To tackle this challenge, WestWood helped to design a customised drainage system. New symphonic outlets were installed together with WestWood’s extensive range of rapid-curing levelling screeds and mortars to eliminate the risk of any future ponding.