Mapei Mapelastic Smart is a two-component, high-flexibility cementitious mortar (with crack-bridging> 2 mm), applied by trowel or with a roller, for waterproofing balconies, terraces, bathrooms and swimming pools.

Recommended Use

Mapelastic Smart is used for waterproofing hydraulic projects such as channels, faces of dams, swimming pools, basins, storage tanks, etc. and balconies and terraces.

Particularly suitable for waterproofing irregular surfaces.

Mapelastic Smart is also used to protect concrete structures, renders with hairline cracks and cementitious surfaces in general which, being subject to vibrations, may suffer from cracking.

Application examples

• Waterproofing hydraulic channels, faces of dams and basins.
• Waterproofing bathrooms, showers, balconies, terraces, swimming pools etc. before laying ceramic tiles.
• Waterproofing plasterboard, render or cementitious surfaces.
• Flexible protection layer of new concrete structures or repaired structures subject to minor deformation under load.
• Protection of cementitious renders or concrete with cracks due to shrinkage, minor movement caused by thermal gradients or dynamic stresses due to the passage of vehicles, against infiltration of water and aggressive elements from the atmosphere.
• Protection of concrete pillars and beams and road and railway viaducts repaired with products from the Mapegrout or Planitop ranges against the penetration of carbon dioxide.
• Protection of concrete surfaces which may come into contact with sea water, de-icing salts, such as sodium or calcium chloride, and sulphates.

Advantages

• High performance: a 2 mm thick film can cover cracks up to 2 mm wide.
• Excellent mechanical characteristics thanks to the use of Mapetex Sel N reinforcement.
• CE-certified and UKCA certified product in compliance with EN 1504-2 and EN 14891.
• Excellent elongation at failure (120%).
• Fluid consistency for easy application.
• Resistant to UV rays.
• May also be applied on existing coverings.
• Compatible with ceramic, mosaic and natural stone coverings.
• Product certified EC1 Plus by the GEV Institute (Gemeinschaft Emissions-kontrollierte Verlegewerkstoffe, e.V.) as a product with very low emission of volatile organic compounds.

Application Procedure

Preparation of the substrate

A) Protection and waterproofing of concrete structures and elements.

(eg. pillars and beams for road and railway viaducts, cooling towers, chimneys, underpasses, retaining walls, applications in coastal areas, basins, channels, faces of dams, columns, faces of balconies, skirt roofs, etc.).

The surface to be treated must be sound and perfectly clean. Remove all cement laitance, flaky parts and traces of powder, grease, oil and removing compounds by sand-blasting or washing down with high-pressure water.

If the structure to be waterproofed and protected with Mapelastic Smart is in a poor condition, remove the damaged parts by hand or mechanical means, or by using a water jet blasting which uses high pressure water and is particularly recommended, because the reinforcement rods are not damaged and the structures are not subject to vibration which could cause hairline cracks to form in adjacent concrete.

Once the rust has been completely removed by sandblasting, carry out the repair with a ready-mixed mortar from the Mapegrout or Planitop range.

Absorbent surfaces to be treated with Mapelastic Smart must be slightly dampened beforehand with water.

B) Waterproofing of terraces, balconies and swimming pools

Cementitous Screeds:

• settlement cracks caused by plastic or hygrometric shrinkage must be sealed beforehand with Eporip;
• if thicknesses of up to 20 mm have to be levelled out (to create slopes, fill out dips, etc.) use Adesilex P4 or Planitop Fast 330.

Existing Floors:

• existing floors and coverings in ceramic, gres, klinker or terracotta etc. must be well bonded to the substrate and free from substances which could compromise the quality of the bond, such as grease, oil, wax, paint, etc.

To remove all traces of material that could affect the adhesion of Mapelastic Smart, clean existing floors with a mixture of

water and 30% caustic soda and thoroughly rinse the floor with water to eliminate all traces of caustic soda.

Renders:

• new, cementitious-based renders or lime-cement renders must be well cured (in good weather, we recommend at least 7 days per cm of thickness applied), bonded to the substrate, resistant and free of powder or all kinds of paint;
• dampen absorbent surfaces to be treated beforehand with water.

Waterproofing: attention to detail

In the waterproofing sector, more than in any other sector, it is essential to pay particular attention to details, which alone are capable of making a difference. This is why it is essential to use products from the Mapeband and Drain ranges in combination with Mapelastic Smart.

Mapeband TPE is used to seal structural joints, gaps and interruptions subject to high dynamic stress, while Mapeband,Mapeband Easy and Mapeband SA are used to waterproof fillet joints between horizontal and vertical surfaces and check joints.

Special kits are also available from the Drain range to seal drainage points.

It is absolutely imperative that special care is in these critical areas after evening out and cleaning the substrate and before applying the cementitious waterproofing mortar.

Preparation of the mortar

Pour component B (liquid) into a suitable, clean container. Then slowly add component A (powder) while stirring with a mechanical mixer.

Carefully mix Mapelastic Smart for a few minutes, making sure that no powder remains stuck to the sides or the bottom of the container.

If required allow to stand while removing any powder from the sides of the container.

Keep stirring until a perfectly homogenous mix is obtained.

Use a low-speed mechanical mixer for this operation to avoid too much air entering the mix.

Do not prepare the mix by hand. Preparation of Mapelastic Smart may also be carried out with a mortar mixer, which is usually supplied with mortar sprayers.

If this technique is used, make sure that the mix is homogenous and has no lumps before it is poured into the hopper of the pump.

Manual application of the mortar

Mapelastic Smart must be applied in at least two coats by trowel or with a roller within 60 minutes of it being mixed, to give a final thickness of at least 2 mm.

When used for waterproofing terraces, balconies, basins and swimming pools, and for protecting substrates which have hairline cracks or elements which are particularly stressed, we recommend to embed Mapenet 150 alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh in the first layer of fresh Mapelastic Smart, to act as a reinforcement.

After the mesh has been laid, finish the surface with a flat trowel and apply a second layer of Mapelastic Smart when the first one has set (after 4-5 hours). To further improve elongation at failure and crack-bridging of Mapelastic Smart on horizontal surfaces, we recommend inserting Mapetex Sel N non-woven macro-holed polypropylene fabric.

The first layer of Mapelastic Smart must be at least 1 mm thick. While it is still fresh, carefully lay Mapetex Sel N on the surface, and press it in using a flat-bladed trowel to make sure that it is perfectly buttered. Then apply the second coat of Mapelastic Smart to completely cover the fabric, and smooth over the surface using a flat-bladed trowel.

After applying Mapelastic Smart, wait at least 5 days for curing before laying ceramic tiles and a further 15 days before filling the pool. This waiting time can be longer in cold climatic conditions.

In good weather and at normal temperatures, on the other hand, this time may be reduced to 24 hours for dry substrates.

Laying ceramic tiles on Mapelastic Smart

Balconies and Terraces:

• Bond in place with a C2 class cementitious adhesive such as Keraflex or Keraflex Maxi S1 or, for more rapid interventions, a C2F class adhesive such as Granirapid or Ultralite S1 Quick;
• Grout all joints with a CG2 class cementitious product such as Keracolor FF or Keracolor GG mixed with Fugolastic or Ultracolor Plus;
• Seal all expansion joints with a specific MAPEI flexible sealant (such as Mapeflex PU 45 FT, Mapeflex AC or Mapesil LM.

Other types of sealant may be recommended, depending on specific service conditions. 

Swimming Pools

• Bond ceramic tiles with a C2 class cementitious adhesive (Keraflex or Keraflex Maxi S1) or a C2F class rapid adhesive (Granirapid or Ultralite S1 Quick). For mosaic use Adesilex P10+Isolastic mixed with 50% water (class C2ES1);
• Grout all joints with a CG2 class cementitious product (Keracolor FF/Keracolor SF mixed with Fugolastic or Ultracolor Plus) or with an RG class epoxy product (from the Kerapoxy range);
• Seal all joints with Mapesil AC silicone sealant.

Application of the mortar by spraying

After preparing the surface (refer to “Preparation of the substrate” section) spray on at least two layers of Mapelastic Smart at a thickness of at least 1 mm per layer with a rendering machine fitted with a spraying lance for smoothing and levelling compound in order to form a final layer at least 2 mm thick.

Successive coats must only be applied when the previous one is dry (after 4-5 hours).

In areas with hairline cracks or which are highly stressed, insertion of Mapenet 150 in the first layer of fresh Mapelastic Smart is recommended.

Immediately after laying the mesh, Mapelastic Smart must be smoothed with a flat trowel. To ensure the mesh is totally encapsulated, a further layer of Mapelastic Smart may be applied with a spray gun.

To further improve elongation at failure and crack-bridging of Mapelastic Smart on horizontal surfaces, we recommend inserting Mapetex Sel N non-woven macro-holed polypropylene fabric. The first layer of Mapelastic Smart must be at least 1 mm thick. While it is still fresh, carefully lay the Mapetex Sel N on the surface, and press it in using a flat-bladed trowel to make sure that it is perfectly buttered. Then apply the second coat of Mapelastic Smart to completely cover the fabric, and smooth over the surface using a flat-bladed trowel.

If Mapelastic Smart is used, for protecting bridge piles and beams, railway underpasses or façades on buildings etc., the product may be painted over using products from the Elastocolor range, acrylic resin-based paint in water dispersion available in a wide array of colours obtained using the ColorMap automatic colouring system.

If Mapelastic Smart is used for protecting horizontal concrete surfaces not for pedestrian use such as on flat roofs, the product may be painted over with Elastocolor Waterproof flexible acrylic resin-based paint in water dispersion.