Elastomeric Coating in Mumbai
Elastomeric coating is a high-build flexible coating that stretches to bridge hairline cracks as a structure moves and temperature cycles. It is the standard external facade and terrace coating where fine cracking is expected, because a rigid paint over a live crack simply splits again.
When this is the right system — and when it is not
Waterproofing is a selection problem before it is an application problem. Most failures we are called to fix were the wrong system for the substrate, not a bad product.
When this is the right choice
- External facades with hairline cracking
- Exposed terraces and parapets
- Structures with thermal movement
When it is not
- Structural cracks needing repair, not bridging
- Heavy foot or vehicle traffic
The system, layer by layer
Every layer has a job. The ones people cut to save money are usually the ones holding the rest together.
- L01Prepared substrate
Cleaned, cracks treated.
- L02Primer
Alkali-resistant.
- L03Elastomeric coating0.3-0.6 mm
Two to three coats to specified DFT.
Almost every failure starts here
Preparation produces nothing visible, costs real money, and is the first thing removed from a cheap quotation. It is also what decides whether the system lasts.
Hollow plaster must be removed and re-rendered before any coating is applied. The surface is cleaned of dirt, chalking paint and biological growth. Cracks are cut and filled, and hairline crazing is stabilised. An alkali-resistant primer is applied to masonry and render, which are alkaline and will otherwise attack the coating.
How we apply elastomeric coating
Step by step, with the specifications each stage is held to.
- 01
Survey for hollowness first
The whole elevation is tapped and mapped. Coating over hollow plaster hides the water path and the new coating fails with the plaster it was applied to, usually within a season.
- 02
Repair and re-render
Hollow areas hacked off and re-rendered, cracks cut and filled, and the repairs allowed to cure before coating.
- 03
Apply alkali-resistant primer
Full coverage on all masonry and render surfaces.
- 04
Build the specified film thickness
Two to three coats to a dry film thickness of 0.3–0.6 mm. Elastomeric coatings only bridge cracks at their specified thickness — spread thinly to cover more area, they lose the property they were bought for entirely.
- 05
Reinforce live cracks
Wider or actively moving cracks receive a reinforcing tape or fabric bedded into the first coat.
- 06
Verify thickness
Wet film readings during application and dry film thickness checks afterwards, since this is the property that determines whether the coating performs.
What goes into the system
- Coating
- High-build elastomeric acrylic or polyurethane with stated elongation and crack-bridging capability.
- Primer
- Alkali-resistant exterior primer suited to masonry and cementitious render.
- Reinforcement
- Fabric or tape bedded into the first coat over live cracks.
What goes wrong, and what we check
These are the failure modes we are called in to fix on other people's work. The checkpoints on the right are how we avoid repeating them.
Common failure modes
- Applied too thin to bridge anything
- Applied over hollow plaster
Our QC checkpoints
- Wet and dry film thickness
- Substrate hollowness survey first
Systems often specified alongside this one
- Acrylic Coating
Acrylic coating is a water-based protective and decorative coating offering good UV stability and colour retention with moderate flexibility.
- External Plaster & Painting
External plaster and painting is the building's first line of defence against driving rain.
- Chemical Coating
Chemical coating is the application of a liquid chemical-based protective barrier to concrete or masonry, forming a continuous film that resists water penetration and chemical attack.
- Cement Based Coating
Cement-based coating is a polymer-modified cementitious slurry applied to concrete and masonry to form a rigid, breathable water-resistant layer.
- Solvent Based Coating
Solvent-based coating uses organic solvents as the carrier, producing a hard, dense, chemically resistant film with strong adhesion and good performance in demanding industrial exposures.
- Food Grade Coating for Water Bodies
Food-grade coating is a non-toxic lining certified as safe for contact with potable water, used inside drinking-water tanks and reservoirs.
Elastomeric Coating across Mumbai
The right specification changes with the locality — coastal chloride exposure, water table, and the age of the building stock all move the answer.
- Elastomeric Coating in Fort
Ward A · 55 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Grant Road
Ward D · 50 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Malabar Hill
Ward D · 55 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Byculla
Ward E · 50 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Bandra East
Ward H/East · 25 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Khar
Ward H/West · 22 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Santacruz
Ward H/West & H/East · 18 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Vile Parle
Ward K/West & K/East · 15 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Andheri West
Ward K/West · 12 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Jogeshwari
Ward K/West & K/East · 0 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Kandivali
Ward R/South · 25 min from our office
- Elastomeric Coating in Borivali
Ward R/Central · 30 min from our office
Elastomeric Coating — questions we get asked
When is elastomeric coating the wrong choice?
Structural cracks needing repair, not bridging Heavy foot or vehicle traffic Selecting a system that does not match the substrate, the exposure and the movement it will see is the most expensive mistake in waterproofing, because the failure only shows up after everything above it has been built.
Why does elastomeric coating fail when it is done badly?
In our experience the recurring causes are: applied too thin to bridge anything; applied over hollow plaster. None of these are material defects — they are execution defects, which is why the same product can last for years on one building and fail in a single monsoon on another.
How do I know the work was done properly?
Ask for evidence against these checkpoints: wet and dry film thickness; substrate hollowness survey first. A contractor who cannot produce them is asking you to take execution quality on trust, on work that will be buried under a finish and impossible to inspect afterwards.
How long does elastomeric coating last?
Recoat cycles are product-specific. We would rather set that expectation honestly than quote a headline number, because the substrate condition and the standard of application matter more to the outcome than the product's own datasheet figure.
What does elastomeric coating cost in Mumbai?
Cost depends on area, substrate condition, access, and how much preparation or structural repair is needed before the system can go on. We do not publish a rate per square foot, because a number quoted without seeing the building is either meaningless or misleading. The site inspection is free and produces an itemised scope you can compare against any other quotation.
Which standards apply to elastomeric coating?
The relevant Indian Standards for this work are IS 3067. These cover the design, preparatory work and material requirements. Where a project specification names a different or additional standard, we work to the specification.
Book the inspection. It costs nothing and it settles the argument.
An engineer visits, finds the actual source, and tells you what the building needs and why. You get a clear scope before any money is discussed.
Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00 · Sat 09:00–16:00 · Jogeshwari West