Damp Proofing

Materials Used for Damp Proofing

• Hot bitumen
• Mastic asphalt
• Bituminous or asphaltic felts
• Metal sheets
• Combination of sheets and bituminous felts
• Bricks
• Stones
• Mortar
• Cement concrete
• Plastic sheets
 Materials Used for Damp Proofing
• Hot bitumen : This is a flexible material and is placed on
the bedding of concrete or mortar while in hot condition.
This material should be applied with a minimum thickness
of 3 mm.

• Mastic asphalt : This is a semi rigid material and it forms

an excellent impervious layer for damp proofing. The good
asphalt is very durable and completely impervious
material. It can withstand only very slight distortion. It is
liable to squeeze out in very hot climates or under very
heavy pressure. It should be laid by experienced persons.
 Materials Used for Damp Proofing
• Bituminous felts : This is a flexible material. It is easy to
lay and is available in rolls of normal wall width. It is laid
on a layer of cement mortar. An overlap of 100 mm is
provided at the joints and full overlap is provided at all
corners. The laps may be sealed with bitumen if
necessary. The bitumen felt can accommodate slight
movement. But it is liable to squeeze out under heavy
pressure and it offers little resistance to sliding. The
material is available in rolls and it should be carefully
unrolled, especially in cold weather.
 Materials Used for Damp Proofing
• Metal sheets : The sheets of lead, copper and aluminium can be used as the
membranes of damp proofing. The lead is a flexible material. The thickness of lead
sheets should be such that its weight is not less than 200 N/m2. The lead can be
dressed to complex shapes without fracture and it possesses high resistance to
sliding action. It is impervious to moisture and it does not squeeze out under
ordinary pressure. It resists ordinary corrosion. The surfaces of lead coming in
contact with lime and cement are likely to be corroded and hence a coating of
bitumen paint of high consistency should protect the metal. The copper is flexible
material. It possesses higher tensile strength than that of lead. It is impervious to
atmosphere and it does not squeeze out under ordinary pressure. It possesses high
resistance to sliding action. The external wall, especially of stones, is likely to be
stained when a damp proof course of copper is adopted. The surfaces of copper
coming in contact with mortars are likely to be affected. But for normal use, the
metal does not require any protective coating. The aluminium sheets can also be
used for damp proofing. But they should be protected with a layer of bitumen.
 Materials Used for Damp Proofing
• Combination of sheets and felts : A lead foil is
sandwiched between asphalt and bituminous
felt. This is known as the lead core and it is
found to be economical, durable, efficient and
resistant to cracking.
• Stone : The two courses of sound and dense
stones such as granite, slates etc., laid in cement
can work as an effective damp proofing course.
The stones should extend for full width of wall.
 Materials Used for Damp Proofing
•  Bricks : The special bricks having water absorption less
than 4.5% of their weight, can be used for damp proofing
at place where the damp is not excessive. The joints are
kept open. Such bricks are widely used when damp
proofing course is to inserted in an existing wall.
• Mortar : The mortar to be used for bedding layers can be
prepare by mixing 1 part of cement and 3 part of sand by
volume. A small quantity of lime is added to increase the
workability. In water used for mixing, 75 gm of soft soap is
dissolved per litre of water. This mortar may be used for
plaster work in external walls.
 Materials Used for Damp Proofing
• Cement concrete: A cement concrete layer in proportional
1:2:4 or 1:1.5:3 is generally provided at the plinth level to
work as a damp proofing course. The depth of cement
concrete layer varies from 40 mm to 150 mm. it stop the
rise of water by capillary action and it found to be effective
at places where the damp is not excessive.
• Plastic sheets :The material is made of black polythene
having a thickness of about 0.55 mm to 1 mm with usual
width of wall and it is available in roll lengths of 30 m. this
treatment is relatively cheap but it is not permanent.
 Methods of Damp Proofing
• Damp proofing course (DPC); membrane
damp proofing
• Integral damp proofing
• Surface treatment
• Cavity wall construction
• Guniting
• Pressure grouting
Damp proofing course (DPC); membrane damp
proofing
• In this method of damp proofing a water repellent
membrane or damp proof course(D.P.C.) is
introduced in between the source of dampness
and the part of building adjacent to it.
• Damp proofing course may consist of flexible
materials such as bitumen, mastic asphalt,
bituminous felts, plastic or polythene sheets,
metal sheets, cement concrete.
• Damp proofing course may be provided either
horizontally or vertically in floors, walls etc.
• The general principles to be followed while providing damp
proof course are:
– The damp proofing course should cover the full thickness of walls,
– The mortar bed supporting damp proof course should be leveled and
even, and should be free from projections
– Damp proof course should be laid in such a way that a continuous
projection is provided.
– At junctions and corners of walls, the horizontal damp proof course
should be laid continuous.
– When a horizontal damp proof course (i.e. that of a floor) is continued
to a vertical face, a cement concrete fillet of 7.5 cm radius should be
provided at the junction.
– Each damp proof course should be placed in correct relation to other
damp proof course, so as to ensure a complete and continuous barrier
to the passage of water from floors, walls or roof.
– Damp proof course should not be kept exposed on the wall surface
otherwise it may get damaged during finishing work.
Integral damp proofing
• In the integral damp proofing method certain water proofing
compounds are added to the concrete mix, so that it becomes
impermeable. The common water proofing compounds may be in the
following three forms.
– Compounds made from chalk, talc, fullers earth, which may fill the voids of
concrete under the mechanical action principle.
– Compounds like alkaline silicates, aluminum sulphate, calcium chlorides, etc.
which react chemically with concrete to produce water proof concrete.
– Compounds like soap, petroleum, oils, fatty acid compounds such as stearates
of calcium, sodium, ammonia etc. work on water repulsion principle. When
these are mixed with concrete, the concrete becomes water repellent.
– Commercially available compounds like Publo, Permo, and Silka etc.
• The quantity of water proofing compound to be added
to cement depends upon the manufacturer’s recommendations. In
general one kilogram of water proofing compound is added with one
bag of cement to render the mortar or concrete water proof.
Surface treatment
• Moisture finds its way through the pores of material
used in finishing.
• In order to check the entry of the moisture into the
pores, they must be filled up.
• In the surface treatment method a layer
of water repellent substances or compounds are
applied on these surfaces through which moisture
enters.
• The use of water repellent metallic soaps such as
calcium and aluminum oletes and stearates are much
effective against rain water penetration. 
Surface treatment
• Pointing and plastering of the exposed surfaces must be
done carefully, using water proofing agents like sodium
or potassium silicates, aluminum or zinc sulphates,
barium hydroxide and magnesium sulphates etc.
• Surface treatment is effective only when the moisture is
superficial and is not under pressure. Sometimes,
exposed stone or brick wall face may be sprayed
with water repellent solutions.
• The walls plastered with cement, lime and sand mixed
in proportions of 1:1:6 is found to serve the purpose of
preventing dampness in wall due to rain effectively.
Cavity wall construction
• Cavity wall construction is an effective method of
damp prevention. In this method the main wall of a
building is shielded by an outer skin wall, leaving a
cavity between the two. The cavity prevents the
moisture from travelling from the outer to the inner
wall.
Guniting
• In this method of damp proofing, an impervious layer of
rich cement mortar is deposited under pressure over the
exposed surfaces for water proofing for resisting
the water pressure.
• The operation is carried out by use of a machine known
as cement gun. The cement gun consists of a machine
having arrangements for mixing materials and a
compressor for forcing the mixture under pressure
through a 50 mm dia flexible hose pipe. The hose pipe has
nozzle at its free end to which water is supplied under
pressure through a separate connection.
• The surface to be treated is first thoroughly cleaned of dirt,
dust, grease or loose particles and wetted properly. 
Guniting
• Cement mortar consists of 1: 3 cement sand mix, is
shot on the cleaned surface with the help of
a cement gun, under a pressure of 2 to 3 kg/cm2. The
nozzle of the machine is kept at a distance about 75 to
90 cm from the surface to be gunited.
• The mortar mix of desired consistency and thickness
can be deposited to get an impervious layer.
• The layer should be properly cured at least for 10 days.
• Since the material is applied under pressure,it ensures
dense compaction and better adhesion of the
rich cement mortar and hence the treated surface
becomes water proof.
Pressure grouting
• This consists of forcing cement grout under pressure,
into cracks, voids, fissures and so on present in the
structural components of the building, or in the
ground.
• Thus the structural components and the foundations
which are liable to moisture penetration are
consolidated and are thus made water -penetration-
resistant.
• This method is quite effective in checking the
seepage of raised ground water through foundations
and sub-structure of a building:
 D.P.C Treatment in Buildings
• Treatment of foundation

Depending upon the depth of the ground level, the

treatment to be given to the foundation can be
subdivided into the following four categories.
 I.      Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil
 II.      Treatment to foundation on damp soil
III.      Treatment to basement in ordinary soil.
 IV.      Treatment to basement in damp soil
I.      Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil

• Building foundation on ordinary soil where the sub soil water table not
high is also liable to get damp. Bricks being porous, brick masonry
below ground level can be absorbing moisture from adjacent ground.
This moisture travels up from one course to another by capillary action
and can make the wall damp for a considerable height. This can be
checked by providing DPC at appropriate place.
• In case of building without basement the base portion for damp proof
course lies at plinth level. In case of structure without plinth, DPC
should be provided at least 150 mm above ground level. If the damp
proof course is just laid at the ground level, earth, dust or leaves might
accumulate outside the wall and with the passage of time the level of
outside the earth may be raised above theD.P.C.level. In such case,
moisture can travel from outside ground level to brickwork above
D.P.C.and hence the purpose of providing D.P.C. will no be served.
I.      Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil
 II.      Treatment to foundation on damp soil

•  In case of building constructed on damp soil in wet areas, both the
walls as well as the ground floor are liable to become damp due to
capillary rise of moisture from ground. In such case the DPC is laid
over the entire area of ground floor including wall thickness. Bitumen
felts can be used for damp proofing treatment. The sequence of lying
DPC can be divided in the following steps:
1. Apply hot bitumen over the prepared surface to serve as primer coat.
2. Lay bitumen felt in the singe layer over the primer coat.
3. Apply hot bitumen over the bitumen felt to serve as finishing coat.

• Immediately after laying, the DPC is protected with a course of brick

laid flat on a cushion of fine sand. This prevents damage to the DPC
specification on account of droppage of sharp edge implement or
other materials during construction.
 II.      Treatment to foundation on damp soil
III. Treatment to basement in ordinary soil.
• In sites where subsoil water table is low, or where the
hydrostatic pressure is not much, the treatment consist in a
providing a horizontal DPC over the entire area of basement
floor and then existing it in the form of vertical DPC on the
external face of the basement walls. The DPC material thus
function like waterproof tank on the external faces of the
basement and keep it dry.
• It is common to use bitumen felt in multiple layers for damp
proofing treatment to the basements. For normal duty
treatment or in places where the moisture ingress is not
considered excessive, two layers of bitumen felts are used.
In case of heavy duty treatment or in places where heavy
moisture is encountered, three layer of bitumen felts are
used. 
III. Treatment to basement in ordinary soil.
 IV.  Treatment to basement in damp soil

• Ground water always produces hydrostatic pressure

and as such poses great problem in design of
basement. In sites where the ground water table is
high, the problem of damp proofing of basement can
be tackled by one of the following methods.

•  By providing foundation drains and DPC.

•  By providing RCC floors and wall slab and DPC.
• Water proofing treatment by using grout consisting of
cement mortar admixed with acrylic based chemicals
along with rough stone slabs.
 D.P.C Treatment in Buildings
Treatment for floors
• In places where the soil water table is low and rainfall is not much, a 75 to
100 mm thick layer of coarse sand is first spread over the entire area of the
flooring on the prepared bed of rammed earth.
• Alternatively this layer can comprise of stone soling with voids filled with
smaller stones. This layer is known as base course and its material is well
rammed. A75 to 100 mm thick layer of lean cement concrete (1:3:6 or 1:4:8)
mix or lime concrete is thereafter laid over the base course. This form the
base for floor topping which may comprise of tiles, stone or cement
concrete etc.
• In place where the sub soil water is high, or in damp or humid areas, where
there is a possibility of moisture rising up in the floor, it is necessary to
provide membrane DPC of flexible material like bitumen felt etc., over the
entire area of flooring.
 D.P.C Treatment in Buildings
Treatment for walls
• The walls can get damp due to penetration of moisture from its
external face to internal one, due to porosity of bricks and mortar
joints.
• Various treatments given  to exposed surface of the walls to prevent
dampness include pointing, plastering and painting etc. It is observed
that plaster made out of cement, lime and sand mixed in proportion of
1:1:6 serves as very effective rendering to protect the walls against
dampness in normal weather conditions.
• In areas of heavy rainfall, cement plaster 1: 4 mixed with water
proofing compounds serve the purpose effectively. In exposed brick
work, dampness can be prevented by painting the surface with water
proof cement paint or with colorless liquid water proofing compound.
 D.P.C Treatment in Buildings
Treatment for flat roofs
• Flat roof required relatively heavier and costlier water-proofing
treatment as compared with pitched or sloped roofs. The specification of
material used for the purpose should be such that it should perform the
function of water proofing as well as provides adequate thermal
insulation.
• Stagnation of the water on the roof is considered to be the root cause of
leakage and dampness in the flat roofs. This can be avoided by providing
adequate roof slope and rain water pipes. In case of R.C.C. or R.B.C. slab
roofing with proper grading above, a slope of 1:40 to 1:60 is considered
desirable. This may be achieved by varying the thickness of the terracing
material or by constructing the roof slab with a slope, or by providing
part slope in the roof slab and part in the terracing material.
 D.P.C Treatment in Buildings
Treatment for flat roofs
• In addition to the slope, the size and the spacing of the rain water
pipes or the outlets require due consideration for the proper
drainage of the roof. In general practice one 10cm diameter pipe is
considered suitable for every 30 sq.m. of the roof area to be drained.

•  In case, where the slope for the drainage of the roof are given in the
roof slab itself or in situation where thermal insulation is not
important and the problem of slopes in the flat roof is tackled
suitably, the waterproofing treatment for the roof may consist in
laying bitumen felt directly over the surface of roof slab after painting
the roof top with hot bitumen.