CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

AND ENGINEERING
MODULE 3

DAMP PROOF COURSE

Dampproof course
• The moisture present in the ground or rain water may penetrate into
the building from below, from sides and also sometimes from the top
of its roof, causing the structure to remain in damp condition and so
causing the deterioration of the structure.

• The treatment given to prevent leakage of water from roof is

generally termed as water proofing whereas the treatment given to
keep the walls, floors and basement dry is termed as damp proofing.

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Causes of dampness
• Orientation of building
• Rainwater
• Exposed top of walls
• Rise of ground moisture
• Condensation
• Poor drainage of the site
• New construction
• Bad workmanship

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Orientation of building
• Walls are affected by dampness when they get frequent splash of
water and less sunshine during the hotter part of the day.

Rainwater
• The rainwater can directly penetrate into the roof or enter into the
walls from its exposed faces which are subjected to heavy rain and
are not protected against dampness.

Exposed top of walls

• If the proper protection is not given rainwater will enter through the
top of boundary walls and parapet walls.
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Rise of ground moisture
• Moisture from ground may rise well above ground level due to
capillary action of soil and building materials used.

Condensation
• Moisture will deposit on walls, roofs, floors etc. when warm humid air
is cooled.

Poor drainage of the site

• If impervious soil is encountered below the building in low lying
areas, water cannot be easily drained off and creates water logging.

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New construction
• Newly constructed walls remain in very damp condition for a
considerable period.

Bad workmanship
• Defective construction causes dampness by allowing entry of water
inside the building.
• If proper slope is not provided rainwater will accumulate on the roof
and causes dampness.

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Effects of dampness
• Creates unhealthy conditions for the occupants of the building.
• Plasters become soft and crumbled.
• Causes warping and decay of timber.
• Corrosion of metals in buildings.
• Electrical insulations are damaged.
• Floor covering materials may deteriorate.
• Termites grow faster and becomes sources for mosquito breeding.
• Causes efflorescence resulting in the disintegration of bricks, tiles etc.

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Qualities of an ideal damp proofing material
• It should be impervious
• It should be strong and durable and should be capable of withstanding
both dead loads and live loads without damage.
• It should be dimensionally stable
• The material should not change its properties with time.

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Methods of damp proofing
• Membrane damp proofing
• Integral damp proofing
• Surface treatment
• Guniting
• Cavity wall construction

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Membrane damp proofing

• This consists in providing layers of membrane of water repellent

material between the source of dampness and the part of the
structure adjacent to it.
• In common building best position for this is at the plinth level.

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Integral damp proofing

• This consists in adding certain water proofing compounds with the

concrete mix to increase its impermeability.
• The compounds made from clay, sand or lime and some chemical
compounds help to fill the voids in concrete and make it waterproof.
• In general, one kg of water proofing compound is added with one bag
of cement to make the mortar or concrete waterproof.

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Surface treatment

• Surface treatment consists in filling up the pores of the surfaces

subjected to dampness.
• Bituminous solution, cement coating, transparent coatings, paints,
varnishes are used for surface treatment.
• Lime cement plaster also serve as a good protection against
dampness.

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Guniting

• This consists in depositing an impervious layer of rich cement mortar

over the surface to be waterproofed by using cement gun.
• The surface to be treated is first thoroughly cleaned.
• Cement and sand are taken in proportion of 1:3 to 1:4 are then fed
into the machine.
• This mixture is finally shot on the prepared surface under pressure.
• Since the material is applied under pressure, it ensures dense
compaction and better adhesion of the rich cement mortar and hence
treated surface becomes waterproof.
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Cavity wall construction

• This consists in shielding the main wall of the building by an outer

skin wall leaving a cavity in between the two.
• The cavity prevents the moisture from traveling from the outer to the
inner wall.

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Materials used for damp proofing
Bitumen:
• It is placed on a bed of concrete or mortar and thickness is at least
3mm.

Mastic asphalt:
• It consists of asphalt or bitumen mixed with fine sand in hot state to
form an impervious mass.
• Due to this consistency it can be spread to a depth of 2.5cm to 5cm,
which sets on cooling.

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Bituminous felt:
• It consists of 6mm thick sheet of bitumen prepared in rolls having
width equal to that of brick wall.

Mortar:
• 2cm thick layer of rich Cement and Sand Mortar (1:3) is applied on
the inner face of external wall.
• This is a vertical D.P.C.
• The surface is than painted with two coats of hot bitumen

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Cement concrete:
• 1.2cm to 4cm thick layer of Rich Concrete (1:2:4) painted with two
coats of hot bitumen is used as horizontal D.P.C.
• It also prevents the moisture penetration by capillary action.
• These layers are laid where the damp is not excessive.

Stones:
• Two layers of stone slabs or slates laid in Lime, Cement and Sand
Mortar (1:1:6) make a best DPC

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Bricks:
• Two courses of dense bricks can be used as DPC when the dampness
is not excessive.

Metal sheets:
• Metal sheets of Copper, Aluminium, or Lead are used as DPC.
• They are very effective in preventing dampness.

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Methods used under various situations
1. DPC material for Cavity Walls
• In cavity wall construction, like cavity over the door or window should
be bridged by flexible material like bitumen felt, strips or lead, etc.

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2. DPC above ground level:
• Cement concrete is however, commonly adopted material for DPC at
plinth level, 38 to 50mm thick layer of cement concrete M15 (1:2:4
mix) serves the purpose under normal conditions.
• The concrete is further made dense by adding waterproofing
materials in its ingredients during the process of mixing.

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3. DPC Material for floors, roofs etc.
• For greater wall thickness or where DPC is to be laid over large areas
such as floors and roofs, flexible materials that provide a lesser
number of joints like mastic, asphalt, bitumen felts, plastic sheets,
etc. are used.
• The felts, when used, should be adequately bonded to the surface
with bitumen and laid with joints properly lapped and sealed.

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4. DPC Material for parapet walls
• In parapet walls and other such situations, materials like mastic,
asphalt, bitumen felts, and metal (copper or lead) are recommended.
• It is vital to ensure that the DPC material is flexible to avoid any
damage or puncture of the material due to differential thermal
movement between the material of the roof and the parapet.

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THANK YOU

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