BASEMENT WATER

PROOFING

By Ar. Pranoti Lad

•Water- proofing materials used in basement construction

Teaching: Basic understanding of retaining structures to be covered, to

enable students understand the need of water proofing treatments
necessary for underground construction. The applications of different
methods and materials used for water proofing on external & internal
surfaces of these retaining structures to be focused upon.

Assignment: Notes and sketches with construction process detail on the

topic. Market study and report on the same including observations in form
of photographs and text description in journal.
FUNCTIONS OF BASEMENT BELOW GROUND LEVEL

(a) Gravity walls of stone, brick, or plain concrete. Weight provides

overturning and sliding stability;
(b) cantilevered wall;
(e) semigravity wall (often steel reinforcement is used);
FUNCTIONS OF BASEMENT BELOW GROUND LEVEL
• A retaining wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral
pressure of soil, when there is a desired change in ground elevation that
exceeds the angle of repose of the soil.
Or
• A retaining wall is defined as a structure whose primary purpose is to
provide lateral support for soil or rock. In some cases, such as basement walls
and certain types of bridge abutments, it may also support vertical loads.

• A basement wall is a kind of retaining wall. The term also refers to a

cantilever retaining wall, which is a freestanding structure without lateral
support at its top. These are cantilevered from a footing and rise above the
grade on one side to retain a higher level grade on the opposite side.
INTRODUCTION
• Basement is one (shallow) or more floors (deep) of a building that are either
completely or partially below the ground floor.
• Waterproofing is the formation of an impervious barrier that is designed to
prevent water entering or escaping from various sections of building
structures.
• Water may enter a basement through various means including through joints,
walls, or floors.

• POINTS CONSIDERED BEFORE WATERPROOFING

• Site investigation is necessary to understand water table and existence of
water course.
• Topography of the land and the direction and movement of any groundwater
should be determined.
• Change in ground moisture content – caused, for example, by the removal of
trees – can result in ground movement and affect the load-bearing capacity of
soil and applied waterproofing.
• Besides gravity, ground water is influenced by its close interaction with earth
materials.
• Ground water can move laterally or upward by “capillary action”.
INTRODUCTION
•Basement below ground level act as retaining walls offers resistance to soil and
ground water pressures.
•Assist in transmit the superstructure load to foundation.

Basement showing positive and negative side with all type of forces acting on it
INTRODUCTION
WATER PROOFING

Waterproofing

Materials used
Methods of
for
waterproofing
waterproofing

Methods of
waterproofing

Dense monolithic
Tanking Drained cavity Foundation
concrete walls
technique system drains and DPC
and floors
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
Basement structures are water proofed by following methods,
1. Dense Monolithic structures
2. Tanking techniques
3. Drained cavity system
4. Foundation drains and DPC

1. Dense Monolithic structures

• Main objective is to form a watertight basement using dense high quality
reinforced or prestressed concrete by a combination of good materials, good
workmanship, attention to design detail and on site construction methods.
• Forms barrier against water penetration.
• Shrinkage cracking controlled by construction joints at regular intervals at 30 m
c/c.
• Joints provide continuity of reinforcement and placement of PVC or rubber
water bar for barrier to the passage of water.
• Water tightness of dense concrete mixes depends primarily upon two factors:-
Water/cement ratio.
Degree of compaction.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
Admixtures
•If the ingredients of good design, materials and workmanship are present
watertight concrete can be produced without the use of admixtures.
•If admixtures are used they should be carefully chosen and used to obtain a
specific objective:-
i. Water- reducing admixtures - used to improve workability
ii. Retarding admixtures - slow down rate of hardening
iii. Accelerating admixtures - increase rate of hardening, useful for low
temperatures - calcium chloride not suitable for reinforced concrete.
iv. Water-repelling admixtures - effective only with low water head, will not
improve poor quality or porous mixes.
v. Air-entraining admixtures - increases workability, lowers water content.

Joints
•Formed in basement constructions to provide for movement accommodation
(expansion joints) or to create a convenient stopping point in the construction
process (construction joints).
•Joints are lines of weakness which will leak unless carefully designed and
constructed hence should be simple in concept and easy to construct.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES

Basement slabs
•Designed to span in two directions and as a consequence have relatively heavy
top and bottom reinforcement.
•To enable them to fulfil their basic functions they usually have a depth in excess
of 250 mm.
•Joints, preferably of the construction type, should be kept to a minimum and if
water bars are specified they must be placed to ensure that complete compaction
of the concrete is achieved.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
Basement slabs
•Waterstops or waterbars are flexible tape like elements of a concrete structure that
prevent the passage of water through concrete joints.
•Concrete joints are most liable to seepage. They are designed as fluid tight diaphragm
embedded in or running along the joints.
•The join is as watertight as the waterbar that join them.
•The primary functions of a waterbar is to act as a waterproofing seal in the joint.
•It allow movement of two sections independently of each other without restraint (free of
tension).
•PVC waterstops are always be joined by welding by heating and never by lapping.
Waterbars are supplied in rolls.

Typical waterbar used in construction Rubber waterbar

joints in basement
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
Basement slabs

Waterbars are used in concrete

for the sealing of construction
and expansion joints.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
Basement slabs
• Suitable water bar should be incorporated in the joint to prevent the ingress of
water.

PVC Waterbars waterbar-colors

 WATER PROOFING TYPES
2. Asphalt tanking
• Provide continuous water proofing membrane to base and walls of basement.
• Continuity between horizontal and vertical membrane is very important since
asphalt sets rapidly once removed from heat source.
• Structure itself provides resistance against water pressure on asphalt which
keeps water out of structure.
• More costly as it is exposed to water.
• Additional protective skin wall has to be constructed.
• Tanking can be applied externally or internally according to the circumstances
prevailing on site. Alternatives to mastic asphalt are polythene sheeting,
bituminous compounds, epoxy resin compounds and bitumen laminates.

• Tanking can be done in two ways-

i. External Mastic Asphalt Tanking
• Preferred method since it not only prevents the ingress of water but also
protects the main structure of the basement from aggressive sulphates which
may be present in the surrounding soil or ground water.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
i. External Mastic Asphalt Tanking
 WATER PROOFING
ii. Internal Mastic Asphalt
Tanking
•Adopted if external tanking is
not possible since it will not
give protection to the main
structure and unless
adequately loaded may be
forced away from the walls
and/or floor by hydrostatic
pressure.
•To be effective the horizontal
and vertical coats of mastic
asphalt must be continuous.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
Advantages
Thermoplastic material- Can be heated and reheated to make it pliable for
moulding with hand float to any desired shape.
•Durability- remains intact for years.
• Impervious- to water and water vapor
•Non toxic, vermin and rot proof and it is odorless after laying.
•Unaffected by sulphates in soil.
 WATER PROOFING TYPES
3. Drained Cavity System
•Can be used for both new and refurbishment work.
•It accepts that a small amount of water seepage is possible through a monolithic
concrete wall and the best method of dealing with such moisture is to collect it
and drain it away.
•Achieved by building an inner non-load bearing wall to form a cavity which is
joined to a floor composed of special triangular tiles laid to falls which enables
the moisture to drain away to a sump from which it is either discharged direct or
pumped into the surface water drainage system.
• Inner wall should be relatively vapour tight or cavity should be ventilated.
WATER PROOFING TYPES

concrete
 DAMP-PROOFING TREATMENT TO BASEMENTS
4. Foundation drains and DPC
• Used where basement rests on soils which are not properly drained.
• Trench is provided all round up to foundation level and filled it with gravel, coke
and other pervious materials.
• Open jointed drains provided to collect underground water.
• Drainage pipes embedded in gravel bed, may be provided before foundation
concrete.
• Horizontal and vertical DPC are provided in wall as well as foundation concrete.

Perforated catch drains for basement waterproofing

WATER PROOFING
WATER PROOFING

Materials used for

waterproofing

Lining Membrane Bitumen/Ta

forming forming r based Polymer Cementacius
based Preformed
material material material material material
material
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Lining Forming Materials (Box Type)
•In this lining masks the surface with cementious bonded materials also known as box
type waterproofing.
•Box type waterproofing system is basically used for basements, underground ducts and
swimming pools where the waterproofing has to withstand the water pressure in
addition to its basic stress.

Typical waterproofing detail of a basement by lining system (Box type waterproofing)

TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Procedure
•A base-coat in cement mortar 1:4 mixed with waterproofing compound is laid over the
Raft PCC and above this rough Shahabad tiles of size 600 mm x 600 mm or 600 mm X 900
mm are fixed with minimum thickness of joints.
•Joints are staggered.
•Thickness of the Shahabad tile should be between 32mm to 40mm .
•After fixing the tiles, the joints are sealed with Cement Mortar 1:3 and 15mm metal is
pressed in the joints for enhanced strength and less shrinkage.
•Over this, a joint less layer of Cement Mortar 1:3 with waterproofing compound approx.
25mm thick is applied and cured for 7 days.
•This layer provides a smooth layer for the raft and also protects the Shahabad tiles from
getting damaged by steel bars laying and labour movement.
•Raft is cast and RCC retaining walls are erected over this plastered base.
•Shahabad tiles are fixed from outside to the vertical retaining walls.
•All four corners of a Shahabad tile is applied with cement paste and it is pressed firmly on
the RCC wall in line and level. At a time only a height of 1m is fixed.
•Total height above the ground level is taken as 40 mm. Joints are then sealed in Cement
Mortar 1:2 (Pointing).
•Shahabad dado is then grouted using cement slurry with waterproofing compound and
cured for 7 days. After curing, a joint less waterproofing plaster coat is applied and cured.
•Thickness of this treatment is around 65mm to 75mm. This entire process forms a box
around the structure and does not allow any water to seep through or leak from the
basement .
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Advantages
•Gives protection to basement at very reasonable cost.
•Doesn’t require special equipment
•Materials are easily available

Disadvantages
•Joints should be grouted properly to avoid leakages.
• Installation time is more
• Labour intensive work.
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Membrane Forming Materials
•Masks the surface with an in-situ self bonding monolithic liquid applied membrane of
either bitumen or polymer based materials.
•Should be breathable in nature to avoid blisters and craters, which affect the
performance of coating systems, should have crack bridging ability, and should be
elastomeric and resistant to aggressive chemicals in water.
•Liquid applied membranes are more economical as compared to preformed membranes.
•Mostly used for shallow basements.

Advantages
•Thickness is consistent.
• Provides insulating properties and high resistant to all forces with good elongation.

•Disadvantages
• Suffers from temperature stability, poor exposure resistance and little recovery from
deformation.
•Severe bubbling occurs developing stresses onto the adhesive leading to eventual
adhesion fracture if proper venting is not applied to water logged substrate.
•Cost of the labour and material is high.
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Bitumen/tar based Materials
• Cold-applied asphalt/coal tar, a common below-grade waterproofing for the residential
market, is good only for damp proofing, not for waterproofing.
•Has poor elastic and crack-bridging properties, and not being UV stable, the membrane
becomes very brittle at low temperatures.
•Presence of a solvent makes these coatings toxic, But very cheap.

•Advantages
• Liquid coatings have low cost and excellent elongation property.
• Speed of work is faster than other methods.
•Easy to apply, semi-flexible, seamless, and U.V. resistant.
• Ease of maintenance and repair and economical.
• Has a ability to breathe.

Disadvantages
•Inconsistency in coverage is the major disadvantage of liquid membrane
•Skilled supervision with more precautions is necessary to maintain the uniformity in
thickness.
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Polymer based Materials
•Applied after surface preparation.
•Natural asphalt-modified bitumen under tar-based coatings-epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic
and natural rubber.
•Synthetic rubbers are grouped under polymer based coating systems.
•Hot-applied polymer-modified asphalt membranes exhibit excellent waterproofing
characteristics, as well as elasticity, flexibility, good adhesion to concrete, overall
resistance to cracking, and provide seamless application.
•Necessity of having heating equipment at the job site, accidental burn injuries, thermal
degradation of polymer due to prolonged heating, and the emission of hazardous
hydrocarbons has reduced the overall effectiveness of this technology.

•Cold-applied bitumen
•Modified polyurethane cured membranes show very good elastic and hardness
properties.
•Have excellent adhesion and crack bridging properties.
•Membranes have good resistance to hydrostatic pressure but poor water vapor
permeability (0.2 perms) and are moisture sensitive, they are susceptible to pinholes,
wrinkles, and blistering.
•Overnight curing time is required (longer at lower temperatures and humidity).
•Presence of a solvent makes them unsafe and unpleasant to work with and also not
suitable for insulated concrete forms.
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Polymer based Materials
•Cured membranes of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion exhibit excellent
waterproofing/ vapour proofing properties as well as elasticity, flexibility, good adhesion
to concrete, and resistance to cracking and failure.
•No need to have heating equipment at the job site.
•Are one-component water-based waterproofing membranes with excellent resistance to
hydrostatic pressure and water vapour permeability (0.02 perms).
•Cured within 2 h (compared to 24 h for other cold-applied urethane systems).
•As these are solvent-free, they are ideal for insulated concrete forms.
•Can be applied immediately to newly stripped below-grade green concrete walls as well
as masonry blocks.
•Are easy to install with a sprayer, heavy mop, roller, or soft bristle brush.

Application of polymer-modified bituminous

coating in a shallow basement
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Cementitious Material
•Cementitious products are probably the easiest waterproofing materials to use. They're
readily available and they're easy to mix and apply.
•Can be used against both positive and negative water pressure resistance but they are
not truly elastomeric.
•Form better bonding with the substrate but have no crack bridging ability.
•But polymer modified cementious coating exhibits excellent bonding to concrete
surfaces, high elasticity and builds a tough film that provides excellent waterproofing
properties.
•Integral crystalline, which is a cementitious-based system, can be admixed with concrete
during construction and the crystalline coating can also be applied on the negative side
to prevent dampness.
•Whenever these crystalline products come in contact with water they create crystals and
seal the capillary pores, thus helping in waterproofing.
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Cementitious Material
Advantages
•protection from solar radiation;
•high resistance to mechanical stress (pressure of the snow cover);
•high resistance to temperature extremes;
•high water resistance – it is the excellent protection from rain;
•fire protection;
•lightweight;
•durability (up to 50 years);
•absorption of noise in the rain;
•no need for additional vapor barrier;
•the ability to be painted

Disadvantages
•in the shadow it may become covered with lichens after some time;
•it is rather fragile and unsuitable for transportation;
•it is super fragile while walking on it (if you have to walk through the roof – walk very
carefully).
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MATERIALS
Preformed Membrane
•Preformed membrane type materials mask the surface with in-situ membranes with
bonding adhesives.
•Are many advantages with preformed membranes. Since membranes are factory made,
quality control for thickness is possible, and they are suitable for high water table, deep
and large basements. But they require highly skilled manpower for installation.
•Other disadvantages of preformed membranes are overlapping joints and the difficulty
of application across a change in the geometry of the structure.
•Labour cost increases because of cutting, handling, reinforcing, and the detailing one
has to go through during the installation.
•Various types of preformed membrane with chemical adhesives used for lining are:
bitumen felts, plastic or Butyl rubber sheets, Chlorosulphanated rubber (Hypalon),
Neoprene rubber, Asbestos glass fibre aluminium foil based felts, low density
polyethylene (LPDE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP); Polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) sheets, polymer modified bituminous of APP (Atactic Poly Propylene) or
SBS (Styrene Butadine Styrene), TPO (Thermo-plastic Polyolefin) and EPDM (Ethylene
propylene Diene Monomer).
BIBILOGRAPHY
•Mantri Sandeep, A to Z Practical building construction and its management, satya
prakashan
•Sushil Kumar, Building construction
•Comparative Study of Conventional and Modern Waterproofing Techniques Saurabh
Borle, Ghadge A.N.
•Frederick S. Merritt, Building Design And Construction Handbook, Sixth Edition, McGRAW-
HILL