Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Damp-Proofing & Water-Proofing

of Buildings

Prepared by
Dr. Shubhajit Sadhukhan
Assistant Professor
Department of Architecture and Planning
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Building Construction-II (ARN 203)
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Defects caused by Dampness

• Efflorescence
• Softening and Crumbling of Plaster
• Bleaching and Flaking of Paints
• Warping, Buckling and Rotting of Timber
• Corrosion of Metals
• Deteriorate Electrical Fittings
• Growth of Termites
• Unhealthy Living Condition

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Defects caused by Dampness

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Defects caused by Dampness

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Causes of Dampness
• Defective Building Materials
• Faulty Design
• Bad Workmanship
• Capillary Action
• Moisture

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Sources of Dampness
• Rising Damp through Foundation
Walling
• Splash Water
• Penetration of Rain Water through
Unprotected Walls
• Penetration of Rain Water through
Defective Roof Covers
• Condensation of Water
• Inadequate Roof Slop (Flat Roof)
• Leakage in Wet Areas (Bathroom,
Kitchens, Water Closet, etc.)

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Rising Damp

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Methods of Damp-Proofing
➢ Membrane Damp-proofing
➢ Integral Damp-Proofing
➢ Surface Treatment
➢ Guniting
➢ Cavity Wall Construction

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Membrane Damp-proofing
• Proving layer or membrane of water repellent material between the source
of dampness and the part of structure adjacent to it
• Also known as Damp proof Course (D.P.C.)

Principles of laying Damp proof Course (D.P.C.)

▪ D.P.C. should cover full thickness of the walls excluding rendering

▪ The mortar bed upon which D.P.C. is to be laid should be made levelled
▪ Concrete fillet should be provided to maintain the continuity of horizontal
and vertical D.P.C.
▪ Each D.P.C. should be place in correct relation

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Integral Damp-Proofing
• Adding water-proofing compounds with the concrete mix to increase
impermeability
• Alkaline silicates, Aluminium Sulphates, Calcium Chlorides
• Puldlo, Sica, Impermo, etc.

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Surface Treatment
• Filling up the pores of the surfaces subjected to dampness
• Bituminous solution, cement coating, transparent coatings to wall surface

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Guniting
• Depositing an impervious layer of rich cement mortar (1:3 or 1:4) over the
surface to be waterproofed.

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Cavity Wall Construction

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Materials used for Damp-proofing

• Should be impervious
• Should be strong and durable and capable of withstanding both dead as
well as live loads without damage
• Should be dimensionally stable
• Should be free from deliquescent salts like Sulphates, Chlorides and
Nitrates

✓ Flexible: Bitumen Felt, Plastic or Polythene Sheets

✓ Semi-rigid: Mastic Asphalt
✓ Rigid: First Class Brick, Stones, Cement Concrete
✓ Grout: Cement Slurry and Acrylic based Chemicals

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Damp-proofing Treatment in Buildings

✓ Treatment to Foundation

✓ Treatment to Floors

✓ Treatment to Walls

✓ Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Treatment to Parapet Wall

✓ Treatment to Pitched Roof

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Foundations

✓ Treatment to Foundations on Ordinary Soil

✓ Treatment to Foundations on Damp Soil
✓ Treatment to Basements on Ordinary Soil
✓ Treatment to Basements on Damp Soil

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Foundations on Ordinary Soil

• Damp-proof Course at plinth level

• Plinth level should be at least 150 mm higher than the ground level
• D.P.C. layer should cover the full thickness of the wall

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Foundations on Damp Soil

• Damp-proof Course on entire floor area above the ground

• Plinth level should be at least 150 mm higher than the ground level
• Lean Concrete is placed above the ramped earth
• Cement Concrete fillet is used to prevent D.P.C.

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Basements on Ordinary Soil

• Both Horizontal and Vertical D.P.C. are used

• Cement Concrete fillet is used to prevent D.P.C.
• Thin outer brick wall is constructed to protect inner wall and D.P.C.
• A continuous groove is used

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Basements on Ordinary Soil

1. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.5 kg/m2 over the prepared surface to serve as
primer coat
2. Lay bitumen felt in single layer over the primer coat
3. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.5 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt
4. Lay another layer of bitumen felt in single layer over the hot bitumen layer in step 3
above
5. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.5 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt laid in step 4 above

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Basements on Damp Soil

✓ By providing foundation drains and D.P.C.
✓ By providing R.C.C. floor and wall slab and D.P.C.
✓ Water proofing treatment by using grout

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Basements on Damp Soil

✓ By providing foundation drains and D.P.C.

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Basements on Damp Soil

✓ By providing R.C.C. floor and wall slab and D.P.C.

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Basements on Damp Soil

✓ Water proofing treatment by using grout

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Floors
• In place where the water table low and rainfall is not much,
• A 75 mm to 100 mm thick layer of coarse sand is first over the entire
area of the flooring over the rammed earth
• A 75 mm to 100 mm thick layer of lean cement concrete (1:3:6) or (1:4:8)
mix or lime concrete is placed over the sand soiling

• In place where the water table high and rainfall is more,

• A 75 mm to 100 mm thick layer of coarse sand is first over the entire
area of the flooring over the rammed earth
• A 75 mm to 100 mm thick layer of lean cement concrete (1:3:6) or (1:4:8)
mix or lime concrete is placed over the sand soiling
• Provide membrane D.P.C. for entire floor area

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Floors

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Walls
• Pointing
• Painting
• Plastering
• Surface treatment with damp-proof chemicals

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Specifications for laying 38 mm thick damp-proof course

with cement concrete 1:2:4 at Plinth Level
1. The damp-proof course shall cover the full thickness of the wall
2. The base of the D.P.C. shall be clear, even and free from projections liable to cause
damage to the D.P.C.
3. The side shuttering shall be strong and so fixed that it does not get disturbed during
compaction and the concrete slurry does not leak out
4. The concrete prepared by mixing ingredients in the proportion of 1:2:4 (1 cement: 2
sand: 4 stone ballast 12 mm and down gauge) shall be of workable consistency
5. The concrete shall be laid and tempered roughly to make a dense mass
6. After 24 hours of its laying, the concrete layer shall be cured for at least 7 days
7. After curing is complete, the surface shall be left to dry out to receive the coat of hot
bitumen
8. The dried surface of concrete shall be properly cleaned with brushes and finally with
a piece of cloth soaked in kerosine oil. Hot bitumen in specified quantity shall be
applied uniformly all over the treated surface of concrete

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

• Requires relatively heavier and costlier water-proofing as compared to pitched roof
• Materials used for the treatment should perform water-proofing as well as provide
thermal insulation
• Requires proper slop (1 in 40 to 1 in 60) and rain water pipe (RWP) to drain off water
• Treatment is also known as ‘Terracing’
✓ Four Course Treatment
✓ Six Course Treatment

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

Four Course Treatment
1. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.2 kg/m2 over the roof surface

2. Lay bitumen felt in single layer over the hot bonding material laid in step 1, the end

and side laps for felt being not less than 100 and 75 mm respectively

3. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.2 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt laid in step 2

4. Spread pea-sized gravel or grit at the rate of 0.008 m3 per square meter over the layer

of hot bitumen (step 3)

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

Six Course Treatment
1. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.2 kg/m2 over the roof surface

2. Lay bitumen felt in single layer over the hot bonding material laid in step 1, the end

and side laps for felt being not less than 100 and 75 mm respectively

3. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.2 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt laid in step 2

4. Lay bitumen felt in single layer over the hot bonding material laid in step 3, the end

and side laps for felt being not less than 100 and 75 mm respectively

5. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.2 kg/m2 over the bitumen felt laid in step 4

6. Spread pea-sized gravel or grit at the rate of 0.008 m3 per square meter over the layer

of hot bitumen (step 5)

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Grading of Lime Concrete
✓ Grading of Lime Concrete with Tiles
✓ Grading of Mud Phuska with Tiles
✓ Grading of Brick Coba laid with Grout

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Grading of Lime Concrete

1. Lay 100 mm thick (average) lime concrete over the roof slab (with proper slope)
2. Apply hot bitumen solution over lime concrete as a primer coat
3. Lay bitumen felt over the primer coat

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Grading of Lime Concrete with Tiles

1. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.7 kg/m2 over the roof surface
2. Spread immediately, coarse sand at the rate of 0.6 m3 of sand per 100 m2 roof surface
3. Lay 100 mm thick (average) lime concrete over the layer (with proper slope)
4. Lay two course of flat brick tiles over the compacted layer of concrete in cement
mortar (1:3), joints are pointed with cement mortar
Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Grading of Mud Phuska with Tiles

1. Apply hot bitumen at the rate of 1.7 kg/m2 over the roof surface
2. Spread immediately, coarse sand at the rate of 0.6 m3 of sand per 100 m2 roof surface
3. Lay 100 mm thick (average) mud phuska (@ 8.1 kg bhusa / m3 clay)with proper slope)
4. Plaster the consolidated layer of mud phuska with 13 mm thick coat of mud gobri mortar
(3:1)
5. Lay two course of flat brick tiles over the compacted layer of concrete in cement mortar
(1:3), joints are pointed with cement mortar
Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Grading of Brick Coba laid with grout

1. Lay 15 mm thick coat of slurry made up of neat cement mortar (1:4) mixed with acrylic
based chemical
2. Provide a layer of broken brick bats in cement mortar (1:4) with proper slope
3. Layer of terracing in step 2 is cured for 2 days and lay a thick coat of cement mortar (1:4)
4. Lay 20 mm thick layer of cement mortar admixed with acrylic. Top layer is marked with
300 mm x 300 mm false square
5. Cure the terracing for a period of 2 weeks
Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Roof Slope and Drainage

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Flat Roof

✓ Flat Roof with and without Parapet

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Parapet Wall

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Treatment to Pitched Roof

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
 Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing of Buildings

Further Readings
Books
• Building Constriction by Sushil Kumar
• Construction Waterproofing Handbook by Michael T. Kubal
• Building Construction by B.C. Punmia, Ashok Kumar Jain, Arun Kumar Jain

Department of Architecture and Planning Building Construction-II (ARN203)

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee