Frequently Asked Questions

Home Stretch Membrane is designed and recommended for typical below-grade waterproofing over a variety of approved substrates, but the sheet membrane waterproofing system can be continued on above-grade walls on a very limited basis. The approval criteria for continuing the Home Stretch Membrane sheet waterproofing system from below grade to top of above-grade wall(s) include the following:

1) The approved above-grade wall substrate shall be only Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF), not concrete or traditional framing with sheathing.

2) The 30-day UV exposure limit on Home Stretch Membrane must be strictly followed. For an extended UV exposure limit up to 24 months, the UV2-40 (Formerly Aluma Flash Plus) sheet air barrier system is available for your review and consideration.

Polyguard Building Solutions allows our fluid-applied below-grade waterproofing products and fluid-applied above-grade air barrier products to be covered in as little as (3) days. However, for proper cure, adhesion, and performance, the minimum required time is (7) days.

The Polyguard below-grade waterproofing systems require a vertical concrete substrate (i.e. foundation wall) to have a maximum moisture content of 10%, and a horizontal concrete substrate (i.e. footer) to have a maximum moisture content of 5%. This requirement is to ensure proper adhesion/bond, while also preventing the Polyguard Stretch Flex (fluid-applied) membrane from developing surface blisters due to sunlight heating the substrate wall and/or footer and cause latent moisture to move within the concrete.

Although the actual installed coverage rate varies by user application, the theoretical installed coverage rate is 1200 - 1400 sq. ft./canister.

Polyguard recommends the typical spacing for the Totalflow Drainboard Accessory Tee / End Outlet to be every (20) feet. However, accurate location and spacing shall be properly determined by an engineering evaluation of the site conditions, and by the amount of water determined by the groundwater table and the amount of annual rainfall.

Yes, with the use of a primer to improve adhesion, an application of a paint finish over the Blue Barrier system is permissible. However, Blue Barrier products are designed to be covered by a cladding material. Even though it is possible to cover the Blue Barrier system with a “weatherable” finish like paint, the Blue Barrier system installation will not be a warrantable condition because the erosion of the paint finish over time will also degrade the Blue Barrier system due to its limited UV-exposure limit

We have two application options approved for stucco veneers:

1) Use conventional wire lath (reinforcing mesh) with the stucco veneer. Mechanically fasten the lath through the cured Polyguard Blue Barrier fluid-applied air barrier membrane, whether the 2300 Liquid Wrap or the 2400 Flash “N Wrap, and the substrate sheathing beneath. This will allow the reinforcing mesh to be self-supported. Maintain the air- and water-tight seal, thereby the air barrier performance, by applying and tooling a minimum 30 mils of Blue Barrier Gap Filler over each mesh fastener head penetrating through the cured Blue Barrier fluid-applied air barrier membrane. With the lath installed and self-supported, the stucco basecoat (and finish coat) must be completed within (12) months of the Blue Barrier fluid-applied air barrier membrane application.

2) Broadcast silica sand into the wet Blue Barrier fluid-applied air barrier membrane, whether the 2300 Liquid Wrap or the 2400 Flash ‘N Wrap membrane, to the point of refusal to accept anymore silica sand. Once the Blue Barrier fluid-applied membrane is cured, apply Lambert Corporation’s 932 Link, a water-based bonding agent, onto the Blue Barrier membrane. Also, add the 932 Link into the stucco basecoat using a 1:3 mixing ratio. Allow the stucco basecoat to cure a minimum two (2) days before applying the stucco finish coat.

How do you recommend I waterproof it with your products? ICF wall construction will need to be waterproofed using the Poly Wall ‘Home Stretch Membrane for ICF’ sheet waterproofing system. Do not use the ‘Home Stretch Liquid’ waterproofing system because it will attack / eat the ICF wall substrate!!

Would I need to prime all surfaces? Yes, the Poly Wall ‘Home Stretch WB Liquid Adhesive’ is the primer accessory product safe for the ‘Home Stretch Membrane for ICF’ sheet waterproofing system. Prime all surfaces and membrane laps to ensure a proper adhesive bond to the ICF substrate surface. Do not use the ‘Polybond Clear Liquid Adhesive’ primer accessory product, which is reserved only for concrete substrate wall surfaces. A level of caution here, as the Polybond Clear Liquid Adhesive primer will attack/eat the ICF wall substrate!!

Would peel and stick work on horizontal surfaces? No, do not apply Poly Wall sheet or fluid-applied waterproofing systems onto horizontal (floor) surfaces. They are designed for vertical (wall) applications only, and are not recommended for horizontal (floor) surfaces.

Home Stretch Liquid can be applied in (2) coats. To answer your question, the TOTAL coverage once the full 60 wet mils is applied shall be 27 sf / gal. It shall be 27 SF / gal when you are all finished, regardless of how many coats are applied to achieve 60 wet mils.

Please be sure to allow the installed product to cure between each coat. Since each coat has less product than the full application, the minimum 24 hour cure time shall be shortened by approx. half for each 30 wet mil coating, or by approx. a third for each 20 wet mil coating. These are approximate numbers for cure time given lighter coats. Your local temperature and humidity will impact the cure time.

Here is the math for dividing the application into multiple coats:

1604 SF / Gal / wet mil is the constant, for the amount of square footage coverage if applying liquid to a single mil thick.

Full installation (1) coat: 1604 / 60 wet mils = 27 SF / Gal
Half installation (2) coats: 1604 / 30 wet mils = 53 SF / Gal
Third installation (3) coats: 1604 / 20 wet mils = 80 SF / Gal

Therefore, if you wish to apply the product in (2) coats, the recommended coverage is 53 SF / Gal (30 wet mils) per coat.

The product should always be tightly secured when not in use. However, a nitrogen-rich spray, like what's available in keyboard cleaner, will need to be sprayed in the pail prior to sealing the pail with the plastic film that's supplied in the Blue Barrier 2400's original product packaging, then re-cover the pail securely with the lid. The combination and sequence of these steps will maintain the product in the pail over time. This procedure must be repeated every time the unused product is re-sealed.

Poly Wall® has the following suggestions for selecting sealants and caulks compatible with Poly Wall’s asphalt-based flashing and tape products:

Polyurethane Sealant and Caulking: Two-part polyurethanes are acceptable to be used under the WindowSeal® asphalt flashing tape, as long as they are fully cured according to manufacturer’s recommendations and specification. Single-component urethanes are generally moisture cure; and, when covered by an asphalt flashing tape, will not cure. Both single- and two-part polyurethanes can be used on top of the WindowSeal® tape without affecting the integrity of the flashing tape.

Polysulfide Sealant and Caulking: They are not compatible with WindowSeal®; even the residue can cause severe damage to the integrity of the WindowSeal® asphalt component.

Butyl Sealants: Are acceptable as long as they are fully cured according to the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations. All solvent must be evaporated completely. Butyl sealants can be used on top of the membrane.

Silicone Sealants and Caulking: Silicone can be used on top of the WindowSeal® flashing without affecting the integrity of the tape; however, a pull test is suggested to ensure adhesion to the WindowSeal® polyethylene film. Silicone under the flashing tape may only allow moderate adhesion for WindowSeal®. A test patch is recommended prior to the WindowSeal® installation over silicone.

You should budget an application rate of 375-750 S/F per hour and lean toward the upper end of that range if you have an experienced and skilled applicator at the end of the line.

The Rot Shield Joist Tape is manufactured to be installed on new deck framing construction, exclusively. Rot Shield Joist Tape is not recommended for applications over older (i.e. weathered) framing lumber being re-used in a remodel project.

The Poly Wall Home Stretch Liquid waterproofing system can be extended 12”-18” above grade onto clean, dry, bare substrate; as a tie-in material for an above-grade air barrier membrane or coating material; but the Poly Wall waterproofing system then requires complete coverage above grade for proper performance.

Poly Wall does not wish to respond to the compatibility or adhesion of another manufacturer’s material/coating over Poly Wall products on the basis the customer shall always take the recommendation directly from the material manufacturer because of the warranty. This speaks to an industry standard that any overlay material is the responsibility of the overlay material manufacturer to assume the liability / risk under the warranty terms. Therefore, Poly Wall does not wish to provide response to another manufacturer’s material compatibility, adhesion, installation and/or performance over a Poly Wall system.

If the intention is to reuse the collected water to drink or for irrigating crops/plants, then the answer would have to be no. Under these uses, you would need to find a fluid-applied waterproofing product that is safe for 'potable water.' The chemicals in our solvent-based waterproofing membrane, called Home Stretch Liquid, negate the use for storing/saving water.

Best method would be to use a box cutting knife or utility scissors.

Yes, the Polyflow 10 Drainboard may be used independently, without the Totalfow drainboard.

The Poly Wall Blue Barrier Liquid Wrap 2300 air barrier membrane is a designed and recommended as a single-coat application for proper performance.