Waterproofing is a heavier-duty membrane or coating system applied to below-grade masonry that is rated to block actual standing water under hydrostatic pressure, not just soil dampness.
Where damp-proofing stops vapor and light moisture, waterproofing is built to hold back water that's actively pushing against a wall, the kind of pressure you get from a high water table, poor drainage, or a wall built into a slope. It's typically a rubberized asphalt or sheet membrane applied thicker and with more attention to seams and penetrations than a damp-proofing coating, and it's often paired with a drain system at the footing to actually carry that water away instead of just holding it off.
Retaining walls and foundation walls cut into a hillside, which describes a lot of lots around here, need this level of protection more than a flat-lot foundation does, because the soil behind the wall stays saturated longer and freezes and thaws right against the masonry. Skipping proper waterproofing on a wall like that is one of the most common reasons we get called out to rebuild a wall that's only a few years old.
More masonry vocabulary from the glossary.
The services where this term comes up.
Chelo's Brick & Stone serves Hillsville, Galax, Wytheville, Fancy Gap, and Independence, VA. Call for a straight answer and a free on-site estimate.
