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

RELEASED! Dug & Gill our loveable adopted Penguin DUO have been released into our wild African seas, after spending 130 days at SANCCOB. This long wait, was due to the recent Avian Influenza lock down at SANCCOB Cape Town, but has since been lifted.

We were elated to receive news of the release date and naturally had to be part of this truly wonderful occasion.   A drive out to Betty’s Bay Stony Point Penguin Colony, on a beautiful Thursday, is not a hard ask!  
A couple of checks were done at the centre before the penguins could be released e.g. they let them swim continually in their pond for 2 hours, to ensure that they were strong enough and did not get tired from swimming. Then each penguin’s skin was checked to make sure that it was dry and that their feathers remained waterproof.

24 Penguins were released at the Stony Point Colony, some adults and some juveniles (Blue’s as they are called).  Our penguins were in a box that had to be carefully carried down to the release point – Dug and Gill were very eager and busy, trying to nibble at my fingers through the holes in the box.

Slowly I tipped our box over and had to encourage and nudge them to come out.  The one “Blue” to my left climbed out of his volunteers’ box and climbed straight into mine, wary to leave. We all had a quiet chuckle!  It wasn’t long before they realised what was happening and waddled out of the box, down the beach and into the big blue.

DuGill is truly honoured to have taken part in this initiative with SANCCOB and have learned so much about the role we all play & the impact everyone’s support truly has.  Thank you to SANCCOB’s team, interns and volunteers for the great work that they do!

#Watch this space…

Learn more about this wonderful organisation and how you can support them: www.sanccob.co.za

DuGill shared the love this February with SANCCOB Saves Seabirds by taking part in their amazing initiative. By adopting and naming rehab penguins, we help contribute toward their rehabilitation and eventual release.

You can also support this great initiative by following the link below:
https://adopt.sanccob.co.za/get-involved/adopt-a-penguin/

Meet DUG & GILL, our adopted duo!

SANCCOB Saving Southern African Seabirds since 1968.

WHAT THEY DO:

SANCCOB provides a 24/7 rescue service for sick and injured seabirds and abandoned chicks.  They respond to oil spill disasters along the South African coastline. SANCCOB is recognised internationally as a leader in the field of seabird rehabilitation, they treat 2500 injured, sick and oiled seabirds annually. They also have a specialist chick rearing unit that saves African Penguin eggs and chicks that have been abandoned, for subsequent release back into the wild. With regards to Oiled Wildlife, SANCCOB works with various stakeholders to ensure authorities take appropriate preparedness action to mitigate oil spill risks.

Team DuGill CT heard the call from the COCT and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to act and get involved for a cleaner Cape Town. Our DuGill CapeTown branch situated in Somerset West got together on 6 December to do just that. It was a hot and windy day on the beach which blew rubbish into the dunes and grassy embankments to make it look like we were picking ornaments off Christmas trees. Caps and metal forks, to the usual plastic straws and lids, plastic and glass bottles, as well as chips wrappers filled our bags quickly.

Other than heading the call for a cleaner home and doing our part, it was also a great team building experience, involving the kids too. The afternoon was ended with nice cool Ice Cream.

We encourage our customers and distributors alike, to join us by keeping our cities clean. The team felt that it was such a great initiative that we decided this will remain an ongoing drive. Let’s keep OUR cities clean!