Sika waterproofing: what each product line is for

Who makes Sika products

Sika’s own Tanzanian website states that its first waterproofing product was invented in 1910. Data sheets for Tanzania carry the name Sika Tanzania Construction Chemicals Limited, Mbezi Industrial Area, Dar es Salaam — the Sikalite data sheet of March 2021 is one of them.

On that site, Sika’s waterproofing range is grouped into joint waterproofing, liquid-applied waterproofing, bitumen waterproofing, waterproofing mortars, and admixtures for concrete and mortar. Product names, pack sizes and figures differ from country to country, so each line below names the Sika site its figures come from.

Product lines and specs

Product lines and specs

Product	What it is, in Sika’s words	Key figures
Sikalite	powdered waterproofing admixture for mortar	1 kg bag; 1 kg per 50 kg of Portland cement (2% by weight)
Sika-1	liquid waterproofing admixture for mortar and concrete	1 part to 10 parts water, about 0.75 L per 25 kg cement; 5 L and 25 L pails
SikaTop Seal-107	two-part polymer-modified cementitious waterproofing slurry	about 2.0 kg/m² per mm; layer 0.75–1.5 mm; 25 kg units (20 kg bag + 5 kg liquid)
Sikaflex-221	one-component polyurethane adhesive and sealant	elongation at break 500%; skin time 60 minutes; applied at 5–40°C
Sikalastic-560	liquid-applied roof waterproofing	—

Sikalite and Sika-1: waterproof mortar

Both are added to the mix rather than applied as a layer. The Sikalite sheet gives three mixes, each with 1 kg of Sikalite and 50 kg of cement: 250 kg of building sand for masonry mortar, 250 kg of plaster sand for external plaster, and 200 kg of river sand for a floor screed. It warns that overdosing can slow the set. Sika-1 does the same job as a liquid and goes into the gauging water. More on how such admixtures work is on the waterproof cement page.

SikaTop Seal-107: the brush-on slurry

The Kenyan data sheet lists rigid waterproofing of basement walls, waterproofing of basements and cellars not subject to hydrostatic pressure, and sealing of hairline cracks not subject to movement. The slurry mix is 1 part liquid to 4 parts powder by weight, applied between +8°C and +35°C. Among its listed advantages Sika includes “approved for potable water contact” — the sheet does not name the approval scheme, so check the current local sheet before using it in a drinking-water tank. The type is described on the cementitious waterproof coating page.

Sikaflex for waterproofing: a sealant, not a membrane

Sikaflex-221 is the Sikaflex product whose data sheet was read for this page. Sika describes it as a multi-purpose adhesive and sealant for permanent elastic seals, used for internal sealing and simple bonding. It cures by reacting with moisture in the air and, according to the data sheet, is generally resistant to fresh water and seawater. It closes a joint, a gap around a pipe or the edge of a fitting; it does not replace a waterproof layer over a whole floor or roof.

Does Kitovu stock Sika?

Kitovu does not stock Sika. Kitovu sells from stock in Zanzibar, and none of its products are made by Sika; this page uses Sika’s own documents only to describe the range. The waterproofing products Kitovu does hold are a two-part polymer cement coating, a water-based bitumen primer and an APP bitumen membrane, all by JUYONS; they are listed on the waterproofing materials page and in the brands overview.