BUILDING MATERIALS

Module 2 Lecture 2
Waterproofing and Damp Proofing
INTRODUCTION
Climate-regulating building materials control the indoor
climate, and are mainly orientated towards comfort. They can
be subdivided into four groups:
 temperature regulating.
 air regulating.
 noise regulating.
 moisture regulating.
Temperature regulating materials
 include thermal insulation materials built into the outer walls
and roof that reflect heat radiation or stabilize room
temperature through high thermal capacity.
 the materials can be set to absorb any extra heat above the
temperature set in a room.
 The main reasons for using temperature regulating
materials are to increase thermal comfort and reduce
energy use for space acclimatization (heating and/or
cooling).
Air regulating materials
 usually composed of thin barriers
covering the complete building
envelope to resist air flows through
the construction.
 The three major motives are to
increase the thermal comfort for the
inhabitants, reduce the risk of
moisture problems and reduce the
energy needed for space
acclimatization.
 Air barriers are also used in internal
walls between cold and warm rooms,
where there is a chance of a draught
being caused in the warm room.
Noise regulating materials
 are necessary to reduce transfer of sound of different types
both in and between rooms, as well as between inside and
outside, and to provide a good acoustic climate.
Moisture regulating materials
 are used for waterproofing,
and to prevent vapor
produced from people and
processes inside the building
from penetrating walls and
roof and creating moisture
problems, especially through
condensation.
 They also include materials
that can regulate and stabilize
moisture both within the
construction and in the indoor
air.
INTRODUCTION
 Most building materials are subject to some degradation
by exposure to water.
 Building systems must be designed to resist the transfer of
water to the inside of the structure.
 Water comes in several forms:
‐ Liquid - The most common way for water to enter a building is in
its liquid form. Leaks may occur that allow rain or groundwater
to infiltrate the building envelope.
‐ Vapor - water may also enter a structure in the form of vapor.
This vapor may migrate through building materials that are not
adequately protected.
‐ Ice - While it is not common for ice to enter a building, the build-
up of ice often leads to water infiltration, as evident in “ice dam”
conditions on sloped roofs.
Absorption of water into a building system or material may
result in several destructive effects:
 Dimensional changes
▫ Increase in moisture content causes corresponding dimensional or volume
expansion
▫ As moisture content decreases, a corresponding reduction in dimension
occurs
▫ Changes in moisture content cause stresses resulting in shrinkage cracks or
breaking away from adjacent materials
 Chemical attack
▫ Induces a chemical reaction such as corrosion of metals
▫ This reaction does not take place in the absence of water
 Efflorescence and leaching
▫ Water dissolves certain soluble salts in masonry, concrete, or mortar and
cause leaching of these salts to the surface as the water migrates outward
▫ This results in efflorescence on the exterior face of the material or
crystallization behind the surface, which causes rupturing
 Blistering
▫ Occasionally there is danger of entrapping water in the system during
construction
▫ In that event, there is possibility that the sun’s heat will result in a blister
formation within the system
 Freeze-thaw
▫ Scaling of concrete happens as a result of freeze-thaw and when air-
entraining admixture in concrete is absent
BASIC MODES OF WEATHER
PROTECTION
There are three basic modes of weather protection that can be
employed:
 Membrane installation
 Water diversion
 Pressure balancing
Waterproofing and damp-proofing sound like the
same thing, and the general objective of both –
minimizing the travel of water through a substance –
is the same. However, there are major differences.
DAMP PROOFING
Damp proofing - application of a material to reduce the
likelihood of moisture transfer to the inside of a structure.
Damp proofing assumes no hydrostatic pressure is “pushing”
the moisture toward the building.

WATERPROOFING
Waterproofing - application of a material to prevent the
transfer of moisture in liquid form to the inside of a structure in
the presence of hydrostatic pressure.
DAMP PROOFING vs WATERPROOFING
There is a distinct difference between damp proofing and
waterproofing.
 Damp proofing is intended to keep out soil moisture. Any concrete or
masonry foundation walls that retain earth and enclose interior spaces
and floors below grade shall be damp-proofed from the top of the
footing to the finished grade.
 Damp proofing is a coating, usually asphalt-based, that is either
sprayed on or hand applied to the outside of the wall. The drawbacks
include an inability to seal larger cracks or holes and the potential for
damage by coarse or careless backfill.
 With proper surface drainage, correctly installed foundation drains at
the footing, and the absence of hydrostatic pressure to drive water
infiltration, damp proofing can supply adequate and long-lasting
protection for many crawl spaces and basements.
 Damp proofing will only retard moisture; it cannot stop a head of water
bearing against the foundation.
 Waterproofing keeps out both moisture and liquid water.
Waterproofing is required in areas where a high-water table or other
severe soil-water conditions are known to exist.
WATERPROOFING
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING
WATERPROOFING COATINGS
 Acrylic modified cement
 Liquid-applied
– Urethane
– Coal tar modified urethane
– Asphalt modified urethane
– Rubberized asphalt
 Crystalline
 Metal oxide
 Bituminous
– Asphalt
– Coal tar pitch
SHEET WATERPROOFING
 Preformed panels and rolls
‒ Modified bitumen
‒ Elastomeric
ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), neoprene, chlorosulfonated
polyethylene (CSPE), polyisobutylene (PIB), butadiene-acrylonitrile (NBP)
‒ Thermoplastic
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene PVC interpolymer (EIP)
 Built-up bituminous
– Coal tar pitch
– Asphalt
 Lead
 Bentonite
– Panels
– Sheet
LIQUID MEMBRANES
 A liquid membrane is applied
by spray, roller, or trowel. The
liquid cures into a rubbery
coating on the wall.
 Liquid membrane is
composed of polymer-
modified asphalt.
Polyurethane liquid
membranes in separate
grades for trowel, roller, or
spray are also available from
various manufacturers.
 At the wall-footing joint, a cement
"fillet" (radius or cove) is required
before applying the overall
coating.
 Liquid coatings have the
advantages of quick application,
low in-place cost, and excellent
elongation.
 One of the chief disadvantages is
the possible inconsistency in
coverage. The typical application
thickness is 60 mils, but it takes a
careful applicator to be sure of
always achieving that minimum
coverage.
SHEET MEMBRANES
 The most specified sheet
materials are self-adhering
rubberized asphalt membranes.
 These 60-mil-thick membranes
are composed of rubberized
asphalt laminated to a
waterproof polyethylene film.
 The asphalt side is incredibly
sticky but is covered by a
release paper, which is
removed during application.
 .
 A lot of details need to be
learned about surface
preparation, priming, patching,
joint treatment, terminations, lap
joints, penetrations, and
corners.
 The system allows easy repairs
of holes, fishmouths, puckers,
and wrinkles. Damaged areas
can be repaired with a piece of
membrane placed right over the
first layer.
 A chief advantage of sheet
membranes is their consistent
thickness because they are
manufactured to exacting
tolerances. These membranes
also have good elongation.
 A higher material and installation
cost is a disadvantage of sheets,
as compared to liquid
membranes.
 Labor cost is expected to be
higher, with all the cutting,
handling, reinforcing, and
detailing during installation.
 A rubberized liquid forms a
continuous, seamless coating,
whereas a sheet membrane
results in many seams, with the
potential for a poor seal.
 Lap joints should be tight and
properly detailed when using
sheet membranes.
 This material also requires
correct use of the manufacturers
mastic or other accessories.
CEMENTITIOUS WATERPROOFING
 Cementitious products are
probably the easiest
waterproofing materials to
use. They're readily
available from suppliers of
masonry products, and
they're easy to mix and
apply.
 A long-handled brush is
used to apply cementitious
waterproofing products.
 An acrylic additive (a white,
milky liquid) is also used to
mix in with the cement
product to have a better
bonding and a more solid,
durable coating.
 The chief disadvantage of
cementitious products is
they don't stretch to any
degree. They will stand up
fine to a head of water but
will not tolerate joint or
crack movement.
CONCRETE WATERPROOFING BUILT-UP
SYSTEMS

 Also known as hot-

mopped, asphalt-and-felt
built-up system.
 With these systems, a concrete primer is applied first.
Then a coating of hot tar (which is heated in a large
asphalt kettle) is mopped on, followed immediately by
application of a perforated felt sheet.
 The felt sheets are laid staggered until three layers (or as
specified) of felt are achieved. A final coating of tar is
applied on top.
 This is a good system with a lot of strength, but probably
not much elongation ability.
 A similar built-up waterproofing system using cold, trowel-
grade dampproofing and reinforcing fabric can be
produced. Again, this system has some strength but little
elasticity
BENTONITE WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE
 Bentonite is a type of clay
that has an ability to swell
and gel when dispersed in
water; it is used in
construction mainly in
excavation and foundation
works.
 Bentonite works because it
can absorb a tremendous
amount of water.
o As it takes in water, the clay
swells to 15 times its original
volume and pushes itself
into cracks and voids.
 When it reaches its
maximum volume, it stays in
these areas permanently to
seal against water.
 Two types of bentonites:
o Swelling-type (or sodium
bentonite) and
o Non-swelling-type (or
calcium bentonite)
DAMP PROOFING
Dampproofing should
perform either of these
two functions:
 Keep moisture from
entering through the
foundations (exterior
underground
dampproofing)
 Block moisture passage
at wall above grade (in-
wall dampproofing and
exterior water
repellents).
 Almost any waterproofing can be used as
dampproofing, usually the thinnest since it does not
have to withstand water pressure,
but merely to slow
release of moisture
from the ground or
from the external
atmosphere.
What contributes to Concrete Dampness?
 The problem is that typical concrete is not waterproofed.
Although un-cracked concrete will typically keep out liquid
water, water vapor can still penetrate quite easily. Keeping
water drained away from concrete foundations and
preventing it from moving through the concrete are
essential to a successful structure.
 One of the reasons basement floors are damp is because
they have no vapor barrier beneath them, leaving an easy
path for water vapor from the soil to migrate into the slab,
assuring that the cold clammy damp feeling never went
away.
 Dampness is only part of the problem, water vapor moving
through a concrete floor can delaminate sealers and
overlays, discolor acid stains, produce efflorescence on
the surface, damage aggregates, cause the slab to curl,
and condense beneath objects on the floor.
Why is there Water Vapor in Concrete?
 Water vapor moves readily through concrete at a rate that
depends on the concrete's porosity and permeability.
 All concrete starts out wet. As the concrete begins to set,
about half of that water combines with the portland cement
(through hydration) and some rises to the surface as bleed
water where it evaporates. The rest is in the pores of the
concrete.
 After the curing period, the slab begins to dry. At this point
there is a lot of liquid water in the concrete pores—in fact,
the slab is saturated. This liquid water begins to evaporate
from the surface and if no additional water gets into the
concrete, within about 90 days for normal-weight, the slab
will be dry enough so that most floor coatings won't
delaminate.
 The ground beneath nearly all concrete slabs is damp.
That means it is a continuous source of water vapor into
the slab and the slab will never dry out—especially if a
coating is applied on the surface that restricts the
movement of water vapor.
CONTROLLING WATER VAPOR
In the field of vapor transmission control, the four major areas
of activity are:
 Water vapor entering the building from the ground, through slabs
on grade and crawl spaces
 Water vapor entering the building from wet soil through the
foundation walls
 Water vapor passing through the structural roof deck of buildings
that have moist internal atmospheres, then condensing in the
roof insulation or exerting pressure on the underside of the roof
membrane
 Water vapor condensing inside wall assemblies as the balance
of wetness and dryness, inside and out, shifts with the season
TYPES OF DAMP PROOFING
DAMP PROOFING BELOW GRADE
 Acrylic modified cement
 Built-up bituminous
– Coal tar pitch
– Asphalt
 Simplified use of other waterproofing methods as damp
proofing

DAMP PROOFING ABOVE GRADE

 Acrylic modified cement
 Asphalt
VAPOR BARRIERS
All of the problems associated
with moisture vapor
movement in a concrete slab
will go away in time as the
slab dries, as long as there is
no source of additional water
into the slab. Since the most
common source is moisture in
the ground beneath the slab,
the solution is to seal the
bottom of the slab.
 The best way to accomplish that is with a vapor barrier
under the slab. Vapor retarders have been used since the
1950s. Recently, though, research has shown that the old
traditional layer of 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheet under
the slab is seldom effective for two main reasons:
□ Although it may seem water-tight, this grade of material allows a
lot of water vapor to pass through.
□ 6-mil plastic often gets damaged during placement of
reinforcement and concrete, creating holes that can let a
considerable amount of water vapor into the slab.
 Thin plastic sheet like this is often called a vapor retarder
—meaning it slows the vapor down but doesn't stop it.
 A much better approach is a true vapor barrier, with
characteristics that conform to the requirements of
"Standard Specification for Water Vapor Retarders Used in
Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs."
This specification has three classes of vapor retarders (or
barriers).
 For all three classes of vapor retarder, the permeance (a
measure of how much vapor can pass through) must be
less than 0.3 perms.
□ These low permeability materials completely eliminate any
moisture migration from the ground, allowing the slab to dry out
much more quickly and to stay dry.
 The other characteristic of a good vapor barrier that makes
it effective is resistance to punctures and tears.
□ ACI 302.1, Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction,
states that the minimum thickness of an effective vapor barrier
is 10 mils. Thinner plastic can't stand up to the abuse of
construction.
 A 10-mil vapor barrier may be sufficient for residential
construction in terms of puncture resistance, although the
10-mil barriers can't completely isolate the slab from
ground moisture.
□ The newer very low permeability barriers are 15 mils (15
thousandths of an inch) or greater. This thicker material is much
less susceptible to tears or punctures and has a lower
permeance.
METHODS OF DAMP PROOFING
 • In this method of damp
proofing, a water repellent
membrane or damp proof
course (DPC) 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. Provision

MEMBRANE DAMP of Damp Proofing Course

in basement is normally
termed as ‘Tanking’.
PROOFING
The general principles to be followed while providing damp proof
course are:
1. The damp proofing course should cover the full thickness of walls,
excluding rendering. 
2. The mortar bed supporting damp proof course should be leveled and
even, and should be free from projections, so that damp proof course is
not damaged. 
3. Damp proof course should be laid in such a way that a continuous
projection is provided. 
4. At junctions and corners of walls, the horizontal damp proof course
should be laid continuous. 
5. 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. 
6. 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.
7. 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 waterproofing

compounds are added to the concrete mix, so that it becomes
impermeable. The common water proofing compounds may be in
the following forms:
1. Compounds made from chalk, talc, fullers earth, which may fill the voids
of concrete under the mechanical action principle. 
2. Compounds like alkaline silicates, aluminum sulphate, calcium chlorides,
etc. which react chemically with concrete to produce waterproof
concrete. 
3. 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. 
4. Commercially available compounds like Publo, Permo, and Sika etc. 
The quantity of waterproofing 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 are much effective against
rain water penetration. Preparation of the exposed surfaces
must be done carefully.
 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.
 • In this method of damp proofing, an impervious layer
of rich cement mortar is deposited under pressure
over the exposed surfaces for water proofing or over
pipes, cisterns etc. for resisting the water pressure.
GUNITING • The operation is carried out by use of a machine
known as cement gun. The cement gun consists of a
machine for mixing materials and a compressor for
forcing the mixture under pressure through a 50mm
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.
 Cement mortar consists of 1: 3 cementsand 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 waterproof.
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 effective in
checking the seepage of raised
groundwater through
foundations and sub-structure of
a building.
END OF PRESENTATION