Dr. Fixit considers surface preparation the foundation of any successful waterproofing job. The surface must be cleaned of dust, debris, and any loose or flaking material, with all cracks repaired using a product like Dr. Fixit Crack-X Shrinkfree before a coating is applied. Depending on the product, priming may also be required to help the waterproofing coating bond properly to the concrete or plaster. Skipping or rushing surface preparation is one of the most common reasons waterproofing coatings fail to perform as expected, regardless of product quality.
Dr. Fixit treats roof cracks by cleaning out the crack of loose material and dust, then filling it with Dr. Fixit Crack-X Shrinkfree, which bonds to concrete and cures without shrinking back to reopen the gap. Once the crack repair has cured, a full waterproofing coating is applied across the roof surface, since isolated crack filling alone does not protect the rest of the slab from future cracking or seepage. This two-step method, repair first and then full-surface coating, is the approach Dr. Fixit recommends for roofs with visible cracking.