If you are planning to construct a new house, there are fair chances that you are confused between damp proofing Vs waterproofing. You might not exactly understand either on a technical level, but you probably know that they are necessary without a doubt to ensure the integrity and longevity of your home or building.
Buildings have been dampproofed for years, a practice that used to be mistakenly referred to as waterproofing because we tend to use the terms waterproofing and damp proofing interchangeably. There, is no denying that the two are somewhat similar and it would be more than easy to understand why anyone debating damp proofing Vs waterproofing would consider them the same.
Understanding the differences:-
The real key differences between the two are the physical differences between the construction materials that are used in the processes. Not only this, but the applied thickness and the conditions of the application also vary from situation to situation.
Damp proofing is just a coating, that is either sprayed on or hand applied to the outside of the wall. It is not usually recommended in modern residential construction but still treated as an acceptable form of treatment in many situations. Damp proofing only controls water vapour from the soil moisture and will not stop the inflow of liquid water.
Damp proofing will only keep the dampness out of your home and the only good thing about damp proofing is that it is fairly basic. Not only this, but it is more than a viable solution in several situations where moisture is a major problem. All that aside, here is where the real confusion comes in. Damp proofing is not a process that is intended to keep all the water and moisture out.
Therefore, the drawbacks of damp proofing are massive including the inability to seal larger cracks or holes left by form ties and the potential for damage by coarse or careless backfill. It is s a process that was specifically designed to halt the moisture. Therefore, it does exactly this by blocking the concrete pillars to slow water penetration.
Waterproofing is the most effective treatment as it keeps water in its various states from crossing a surface, therefore moisture from the soil, water vapour and water under hydrostatic pressure is efficiently barred.
So, if there is any doubt about whether damp proofing will do the job, it’s best to spend the extra time and money to waterproof, particularly for habitable space.
