Damp Proofing vs Waterproofing – What is the best solution??
We are often asked to explain the difference between waterproofing and damp proofing and why one would be better than the other.
I think the best way to explain which one is the best in any given situation is to explain what the difference is between them.
There are some long and pretty exhaustive definitions of waterproofing and damp proofing available for you, however it is probably most easily explained by saying that you should firstly consider if your property/structure, whether it be new or old or still in the design board, has earth bearing against it which is higher than the internal floor level. If it has then your decision about damp proofing or waterproofing should be relatively easy because you should consider that the earth is a conduit or route for water to be delivered against the structure with the potential consequence of water ingress as a result.
Implications of BS8102 Waterproofing Regulations
- Newton System 800 damp proof membranes used to treat damp above ground
In this situation whether the ground is higher by 10cm or 10m we are governed by BS8102:2009 (Code of Practice for The Protection of Structures Against Water from the Ground) to waterproof this particular elevation. However if you can remove, dig or design the earth away from the building to a level which is below the internal floor level then you have effectively removed the risk of pressurised water ingress and therefore you have created a damp proofing situation and therefore a damp proofing solution can be applied to the affected areas.
Newton Systems for Damp Proofing and Waterproofing
So to summarise- if the external ground levels are higher than the internal floor levels a waterproofing system that can potentially deal with running water is required. In this instance we would generally recommend our Newton System 500 – Basement Waterproofing which deals with collects and manages water away from the structure. If the external ground levels are lower or can be reduced to be lower than internal levels then if dampness is diagnosed a damp proofing solution to deal with capillary held moisture only can be applied to the walls and floors. For this our System 800 – Damp Proofing membranes are ideal.
With the above in mind a word of warning, it is common for people to question why they should have a full waterproofing system if they only have marginally high ground levels and/or there is no running water present at the time. Whilst we understand their reticence we are governed by the British Code of Practice which also says that as well as natural ground water we must consider, fluctuating water tables, the future effects of climate change, temporary pockets of water and perched water tables and burst water mains as potential sources of water ingress.
The likely result of installing a damp proofing system where it should have been waterproofing because the ground levels are marginal or there is no running water can be serious water ingress or flooding and the consequential loss to the building owner or user can be devastating.
So in answer to the headline question, which is best damp proofing or waterproofing? The answer is that it is totally dependant on your individual situation but as a general rule of thumb if your building/structure is completely above ground the likelihood is that damp proofing will be best for you and if your building/structure is in any way below the ground it is likely that the best option will be waterproofing for that elevation at least.
We are always delighted to advise on any waterproofing or damp proofing projects, just call us on 020 7237 1217 and we will put you straight through to one of our experts or e-mail us on info@newton-membranes.co.uk .
What is BS 8102: 2009 and what does it mean to specifiers of structural waterproofing projects?
BS 8102 is a design document whose purpose is to inform the designer of the various methods of waterproofing available and to assist in the correct specification of those systems. Although other documents are available, BS 8102 is THE document that you should be familiar with. Although not UK law, failure to use BS 8102 could result in the designer having a difficult time in a court of law in the event of litigation following a waterproofing failure. It is almost certain that this code of practice will be used by the prosecuting expert witness.
The New British Standard BS 8102:2009 came into effect 30 November 2009 and supersedes BS 8102:1990
A number of new recent developments are addressed which are important when specifying, designing and constructing below ground structures including: Continue reading » » » »
Newtons new range of structural waterproofing products includes cementitious products, deck and roofing products and liquid applied floor coatings. This product range represents the culmination of two years of testing, development and research to find the best waterproofing products available. These new products complement our System 500 basement waterproofing products, and our leading System 800 damp proofing membranes.
Newton’s full product range is profiled in our new Newton Waterproofing Systems Catalogue. You can view the electronic version by clicking the link below. For a hard copy please e-mail info@newton-membranes.co.uk or leave a comment below.
View Newton Waterproofing Systems Catalogue
I have a Grade 2 listed building which I intend to convert in to habitable space. The age of the building means that the walls were not built with any form of damp proof course in them. The walls are a combination of brick and stone construction and some are substantially thick – between 400mm and 1200mm. Although none of the walls are ringing wet I suspect that there will be a level of residual and/or rising dampness and I can see visible salt deposits on the walls especially in the low level mortar joints. I recently had a survey done by a local damp proofing company who have recommended injecting a chemical damp proof course. In your experience is this the right course of action as I am not entirely convinced? – Andrew, London
Answer: I would be very reticent to recommend the insertion of a chemical damp proof in the walls for the following reasons
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How long have you been diagnosing damp?
I began my surveying career in 1976! And dampness featured back then as the prime culprit at the root of so many property defects. But more specifically, I have been an independent dampness consultant now for around nine years. Useful techniques for damp diagnosis are explained in ‘Diagnosing Damp’ by RICS Books, with my follow up book now available from the same publisher titled ‘Remedying Damp’. Available on line : www.ricsbooks.com
What do you think is the best method for treating damp?
It really depends on quite a range of criteria. As a purist I’d love to always go down the road of solving dampness at source – but this is not always possible due to budgetary or legal constraints. For low level dampness in above ground walls air gap technology membranes, like those provided by John Newton & Company, can often be a good remedy. The membranes admittedly do ‘mask’ dampness, but most importantly they also help to control its spread. And of course in some instances standard building repairs are all that is needed.
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Damp Mould is unsightly and can cause health problems
Damp Mould and Condensation
This time of the year many thousands of homes and buildings will be affected by condensation and the associated damp mould. Black Spot Penicillium mould is probably the symptom most indicative of condensation and is the bane of many peoples lives because of its very persistent nature, the damage it does to internal finishes and the affect it can have on peoples health. Even when guidance and best advice to remove the cause of the condensation has been followed the dreaded damp mould can return. This is because damp mould can manifest itself in the wall finishes and even after cleaning with something like a strong domestic bleach and a fair amount of elbow grease applied the damp mould can re germinate!
The Causes of Damp Mould
Condensation and the indicative damp mould is a bi-product of how we live and the affect this has on the atmospheric moisture levels where we live. Because of the things that we do on a daily basis like: Continue reading » » » »
As we head through December and closer to Christmas it would appear that last week’s prediction of a classic cold snap certainly came true, with snow piling up across the North and South eastern parts of the UK and new November lowest temperature records being set across the country. Most notably both Wales and Northern Ireland recorded the coldest November night since records began
The Big Freeze
Further snow and freezing temperatures are causing major problems for road, rail and air services in much of the UK, and hundreds of schools are shut.Industry in general is counting the cost of the ‘Big Freeze’ through employee absence and weather affected delays. None more so than the poor old Building Industry with a lack of labour, frozen sites and conditions unsuitable for the application of many materials, building projects all over the country will be falling behind schedule. Continue reading » » » »
Severe weather warnings have been announced again today as we move into the winter months once more. Storms have been battering the UK, with snow, downpours of rain and winds of up to 65mph (105km/h) in particular Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been worst hit with weather bring power disruptions in many areas.
Sever Weather and the Basement Waterproofing Industry
This basement was not protected with Newton products, so flooding was inevitable
Severe weather is a serious concern in the basement waterproofing industry. This is when the systems installed are tested, even if they have been systems installed years ago they may now be tested for the first time. It is during the design stage that coping with extreme rainfall, complete soil saturation and the risk of hydrostatic pressure against below ground structures should be addressed and a robust basement waterproofing system initiated. The use of cavity drain systems such as our Newton System 500 are now not only recognised as the most risk free solution for refurbishment construction but it is now noted in the British Standard BS8102:2009 that “New construction generally incorporates a cavity drain membrane“.
As such our Newton System 500 cavity drain membranes are being installed into all forms of construction to protect against water from the ground. Continue reading » » » »
Basements provide us with space that can be used for almost any purpose. They no longer need to be cold, dark, dank spaces that leak and are either unused or only good for basic storage. They are now being regularly converted and built to become integral areas of a property or building, for such use as bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, gyms, utility area, offices etc all of which will add significant value to any property.
The trouble with basements is that whether they are old or new they can leak. A basement leak can be problematic especially if it occurs after the event of installing the fixtures and fittings.
John Newton and Co. have been innovators of waterproof systems for the last 75 years and our products have been used to successfully deal with basement leaks in many thousands of properties across the country.
We deal with specifiers, builders and home owners who want dry, fit for purpose below ground areas and our systems are guaranteed to work when installed by one of our of Newton Specialist Basement Contractors providing confidence in the event of a basement leak.
At John Newton and Co. we think we have designed and produced the most trouble free and effective method of dealing with actual or the potential for water ingress from a basement leak whether it is a new build, refurbishment or historical project. Continue reading » » » »
What Are The Recommended Products For Treating Damp Above Ground and Below Ground?
As a general rule, Newton System 800 – Damp Proof Membranes are suitable for damp proofing treatments only and as such are for use above ground. For below ground applications we would recommend the use of our Newton System 500 – Cavity Drain Waterproofing.
Newton System 800 - Damp Proof Membranes are ideal for treating damp walls above ground
We like any professional damp proofing and waterproofing company are guided by the British Standard 8102:2009 which is the code of Practice for the Protection of Below Ground Structures form Water from the ground. BS8102 tells us that when making a decision as to which system is most suitable in any given scenario we should consider if a structure has external ground levels which are higher than the internal floor level. If so we must consider the earth which bears against the walls to be a conduit or route for water to be delivered against the structure at some time in its life .
It doesn’t matter to what height the earth is bearing as the end result of water against the structure can be flooding if you do not have an appropriate waterproofing system in place.
Preparing For The Future
We also have to consider that all the time earth is against the structure it is not just natural ground water and fluctuating water tables that pose a risk because BS8102 says that we should also consider the future affects of climate change, perched water tables or things like burst water mains which could provide the source of the water. The BS8102 also states that even well drained strata can become saturated. With the aforementioned borne in mind, damp proofing membranes alone are not usually suitable for below ground application and consideration should be given to a waterproofing system like Newton System 500 – Cavity Drain Waterproofing .
It is common for people to question why they should have a full waterproofing system if they have marginally high ground levels and there is no running water present at the time but hopefully the information above will help explain our stance and why a recommendation for a waterproofing system and not damp proofing is best practice in these instances . If you would like to discuss this matter further with someone in our technical department please call 020 7237 1217.
