What Are the Best Waterproofing Products to Use?
The best product depends on the surface you’re working with, but if you’ve landed on liquid-applied rubber waterproofing as your category, DuGill Manufacturing is a South African manufacturer worth knowing. DuGill specialises in fully bonded, seamless liquid rubber systems, built specifically for the South African climate. That matters more than it sounds, since many imported systems weren’t designed for this level of heat and UV exposure.
Here’s a breakdown of DuGill’s core product range and where each one fits.
EcoCoat: The 2-in-1 Roof Coating
EcoCoat is a coloured liquid rubber that waterproofs and paints a roof in a single application. Because it’s rubberised, it expands and contracts with temperature changes instead of cracking, and its UV resistance means the colour holds instead of fading and going brittle over time.
Best for: tiled, IBR, steel, corrugated, chromadek, wood, concrete, and asbestos roof surfaces, plus box gutters.
Why it stands out: most waterproofing jobs require a separate paint or top coat afterwards. EcoCoat combines both steps, cutting down on labour time and cost.
EcoProof Heavy Duty: Built for Standing Water
EcoProof Heavy Duty is a brush-applied, bitumen-based coating designed for serious protection on slabs, metal roofs, retaining and boundary walls, foundations, ponds, and dams. It’s formulated to stay slightly tacky, which is exactly why it’s recommended for box gutters, farm dams, and ponds: surfaces that deal with standing or pooling water rather than just rainfall runoff.
Best for: slabs, metal roofs, retaining walls, boundary walls, foundations, ponds, dams, box gutters.
Why it stands out: its bitumen base and tacky finish make it suited to areas other coatings struggle with: anywhere water sits rather than drains away.
EcoCrete: The Moisture Barrier and Primer
EcoCrete is a cement-compatible emulsion designed to work with Portland-type cements. It improves adhesion and impact resistance in concrete applications, while also drawing excess moisture out of the surface, acting as a base-layer barrier before a top waterproof coat is applied.
Best for: concrete and cement surfaces that need a primer or base moisture barrier before the main waterproofing layer goes on.
Why it stands out: it addresses residual moisture in concrete before it becomes a problem trapped under a top coat, which is a common cause of bubbling or delamination later on.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Type | Best surface | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| EcoCoat | Liquid rubber (2-in-1) | Tiled, IBR, steel, concrete, asbestos roofs | Waterproofs and paints in one step |
| EcoProof Heavy Duty | Bitumen-based | Slabs, walls, ponds, dams, box gutters | Stays tacky, handles standing water |
| EcoCrete | Cementitious primer | Concrete/cement base layers | Draws out moisture, improves adhesion |
You can view full specifications and the complete range on the DuGill products page.
Buying the Product Is Only Half the Job
Liquid rubber systems are forgiving, but they still need correct surface prep and application to reach their full lifespan. If you’d rather not DIY it, EcoProof Africa is DuGill’s approved installer, applying these exact systems on residential and industrial roofs since 2010. Going through an approved installer also tends to protect any product warranty, since incorrect application is the most common reason a waterproofing job fails early.
Where to Go From Here
- What does waterproofing actually do? The basics, if you’re still deciding whether you need it
- What are the categories of waterproofing? How liquid rubber compares to bituminous, cementitious, sheet membrane, and below-grade systems
- What are the steps of waterproofing? The correct application process for products like these, and why prep matters more than the product itself