Outdoor mega-set waterproofing under extreme weather
For a major international feature production, our partner built a large-scale outdoor set structure in Europe — a complex, high-surface-area build measured in multiple thousands of square metres. Construction took place during summer, but the build window was hit by repeated heavy rain and storm conditions.
The key requirement was straightforward: keep the set structurally safe and dry, and reduce post-storm repairs to an absolute minimum — so the build could remain reliable and camera-ready throughout the shooting days.
The challenge: speed, scale, and real weather exposure
On large exterior builds, water ingress is not just an aesthetic issue. It can lead to swelling, deformation, delamination, and structural weakening, especially when mixed substrates are involved. Traditional waterproofing approaches often rely on multiple steps and extensive detailing work around corners and transitions, typically using reinforcement tapes and additional accessories.
At this scale, every extra step adds time, labour, and risk — and in wet conditions it also increases the chance of small execution errors becoming major failures.
Our approach: a faster, lower-risk waterproofing workflow
Already in the planning phase, QHL recommended a brush/roll-applied waterproofing system designed for fast application and dependable performance on demanding exterior set builds. The system’s key advantage for this project was the ability to achieve a robust, continuous waterproofing layer with a simplified detailing workflow — enabling the crew to move quickly while keeping quality consistent across a very large area.
Practical benefits for the build team:
- Faster application with fewer process steps
- Reduced detailing complexity compared to tape-heavy solutions
- Low material consumption (well under 1 kg/m² in typical use) — efficient at scale
- Reliable protection against repeated rain events during the build period
- Lower rework risk, which directly protects schedule and labour costs
Result: stable set performance during shoot days
Despite the stormy period during construction, the set remained in excellent condition and performed as required on shooting days. Our partner reported a high level of satisfaction, primarily because the system helped keep the build dry, stable, and predictable, while also reducing the amount of corrective work after heavy weather.
Ongoing collaboration
Since this project, we have continued supplying the same proven system for additional builds and applications — because the workflow is repeatable, crew-friendly, and reliable under real-world site conditions.
