- Q.There seem to be a lot of
products on the market that solve problems with leaky
basements. Some are for "dampproofing" and others for
"waterproofing." What is the difference?
A.A quick answer is,
"their lawyers." For the same reason that a product
we used to call a "vapor barrier" is now called a
"vapor retarder," many products are now sold for
dampproofing rather than for
waterproofing.
A product that fills the pores of a material to
reduce capillary movement of water through the
material can only be called dampproofing. An
example is the thin bituminous coating painted on
primarily to reduce vapor flow through the wall.
These products are useless when bulk water presses
against the wall. If the product produces a sealed
membrane or forms a continuous film with
essentially zero permeability (very difficult), it
could be classified as waterproofing. Examples
include synthetic rubber membranes and
bentonite-based products.