"Waterproofing has to be done, but we don’t give any warranty on them”. You must be hearing this sentence whenever anyone recommends waterproofing for your home. It has been a matter of doubt, confusion, suspicion and mistrust for most of the house owners.

Let’s first understand the need for the waterproofing first, before understanding why there is so much of confusion around this matter.

There are few parallel kingdoms in the construction world-

• Concrete

• Steel

• Wood

• Plastic and polymer

Mostly we use Concrete and steel while making our buildings. Concrete has may advantages to qualify to be a mostly used building material, but has a major disadvantage- it is very porous to water. This is the space where it needs the help of polymeric materials. Even though waterproofing and Damp proofing are 2 different aspects, but to simplify- we will combine them together.

Waterproofing is making a protective layer on the building to keep the water away from the it, or to hinder water from moving it in concrete through capillary action.

Thus, water leakage or seepage in building is very common and natural, various sources of water would be-

• Below the ground- water rising up through capillary action

• Through cracks or voids- water entering to the building through them

• Any porous concrete surface subjected to water

• Leakage in water pipeline

• Water coming from sunken area like bathroom, bathtub

• Water seepage from ponded water at Roof, Chajja, podium etc.

Now we can understand that the right way for water proofing is to prevent the penetration/entrance of water into the concrete in the first stage itself.

“Prevention is always better than cure.”

Therefore, construction engineers do a lot of study and research before the construction itself, and perform extensive water proofing in the course of construction, using admixtures (to mix with concrete), water proofing membranes, water proofing of sunken area etc.

Therefore, construction engineers do a lot of study and research before the construction itself, and perform extensive water proofing in the course of construction, using admixtures (to mix with concrete), water proofing membranes, water proofing of sunken area etc.

Now when we come across any leakage or seepage issue; more often, we are trying to address the issue- which was not addressed by the builder while constructing.

Sunken area was not addressed, bathroom walls were not treated well, outside walls were left unattended etc.

All what we are trying to do is to correct the situation without knowing- what kind of hydrostatic pressure (pressure of water), what kind of capillarity/cracks/voids in the concrete, what kind of water proofing done in past etc. Cost and cumbersomeness are also factors to look at. Hence 100% prediction on efficacy of water proofing is always doubtful.

Nevertheless, an experienced and professional waterproofing company studies the reasons and recommends the solution in such a way that it will take care of all possible factors and with a headspace against them.

They may not be able to give a warranty, but can assure that that now issue has been delayed, if not resolved permanently- to what period; is again very subjective to every case of water leakage/seepage.