Negative Side Waterproofing
Waterproofing applied to the dry face of a structure — the inside of a basement wall — rather than the face the water arrives from.
On an actual building
It is often the only option on an existing building, since the outer face cannot be reached without excavation. But water pressure acts to push it off rather than on, so it needs either a system that works within the concrete or active paths sealed by injection first.
What we most often have to correct
That it is equivalent to external tanking at lower cost. It manages water at the surface while the structure itself stays saturated.
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Positive Side Waterproofing
Waterproofing applied to the face water arrives from — the external side of a basement wall or the top of a slab..
- Hydrostatic Pressure
The pressure exerted by standing water against a structure, increasing with depth below the water level..
- Crystalline Waterproofing
A cementitious system carrying reactive chemicals that penetrate concrete and grow insoluble crystals within its capillary pores, blocking water paths inside the material..
More below grade terms
Negative Side Waterproofing — questions we get asked
What does negative side waterproofing mean in waterproofing?
Waterproofing applied to the dry face of a structure — the inside of a basement wall — rather than the face the water arrives from.
Why does negative side waterproofing matter on a real project?
It is often the only option on an existing building, since the outer face cannot be reached without excavation. But water pressure acts to push it off rather than on, so it needs either a system that works within the concrete or active paths sealed by injection first.
What do people commonly get wrong about negative side waterproofing?
That it is equivalent to external tanking at lower cost. It manages water at the surface while the structure itself stays saturated.
Have a building showing this?
If a term on this page describes something you are looking at, a site inspection will tell you how far it has gone and what it needs. It costs nothing.
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