Waterscapes Gives Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre Pool a Waterproofing Glow-Up

When Waterscapes was contacted for help with a waterproofing project at the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre, there was really only one answer: Yes!

The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre is a non-profit organisation based at Hout Bay Harbour that rescues, rehabilitates and cares for Cape fur seals in need. The centre provides treatment and rehabilitation for injured, sick and vulnerable seals, with the aim of returning healthy animals to the wild whenever possible.

The Waterscapes team wanted to help provide the seals with a properly waterproofed pool and decided to take on the project at no cost to the centre. The six-day project was completed towards the end of September, giving the centre's small seal pool a much-needed waterproofing upgrade.

The existing waterproofing system had experienced wear and tear from ongoing exposure to salt water and the demanding conditions of the environment. Before the new system could be applied, the pool required careful surface preparation.

The Waterscapes team removed areas of delaminated material, carried out patching, sealed penetrations and applied a base coat. A dual-coat waterproofing system was then installed, followed by a non-toxic top coat.

The result was a properly waterproofed pool ready to continue serving the seals in the care of the centre.

And apparently, the residents approved.

The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre shared the completed project on its social media channels with the caption: “This glow-up gets our seal of approval!”

About the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre

The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre is a non-profit organisation based at Hout Bay Harbour that rescues, rehabilitates and cares for Cape fur seals in need. The centre provides treatment and rehabilitation for injured, sick and vulnerable seals, with the aim of returning healthy animals to the wild whenever possible.

We were very happy to contribute our skills to the work they do and to help maintain an important part of the facility.

If you’d like to help support these ocean puppies and the work of the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre, you can follow this link to make a donation and help keep their important work going. 

A Meaningful Start in Cape Town

The project comes at an important time for Waterscapes, which recently opened its office in Cape Town following the company's established operation in Johannesburg.

With increasing opportunities across the Western Cape, the new Cape Town office forms part of Waterscapes' expansion across South Africa. The company works on water features, swimming pools, ponds, fountains, dams and related water systems, providing services including construction, waterproofing, filtration, repairs, installation and maintenance.

The Hout Bay project was a particularly fitting way to begin building relationships in the city.

“We were contacted because the existing waterproofing had deteriorated, and when we saw what was needed, we couldn't say no. We wanted to help give the seals a properly waterproofed pool. It was a small way for us to contribute, and we were very happy to be able to do the work at no cost to the centre.” says Brad Straw of Waterscapes. 

The project also demonstrates the type of specialised waterproofing work Waterscapes undertakes in challenging water environments. Salt water, constant exposure and regular use can place considerable demands on waterproofing systems, making correct surface preparation, product selection and application important to the long-term performance of the installation.

As Waterscapes establishes its presence in Cape Town, the company is looking forward to working with more clients and organisations across the Western Cape while continuing to service projects throughout South Africa and elsewhere in Africa.

For now, however, there is one review that matters most.

A seal of approval.