Damp proof course (DPC) is a barrier of impervious material built into a wall or pier to prevent moisture form moving

to any part of

the building. The DPC is built into base wall brickwork. It bridges brick skins and/or the brick and pier.
Various methods of damp proofing are as given below:
1. Providing D.P.C. course
2. Providing cavity walls
3. Surface treatment
4. Integral treatment
5. Guniting and
6. Pressure grouting.
1. Providing damp proof course: It consists of providing a damp proof course between the source of dampness
and building component. The DPC may be with any water repellant material like bitumen, mastic asphalt, cement
concrete, metal or plastic sheets. DPC should cover full width of wall. It should be laid on levelled surface of mortar.
Joints should be minimum and should not be at critical points. When horizontal DPC on roof is continued on vertical
face of parapet wall, the junction should be filled with about 75 mm fillet of cement concrete. Figure 9.1 shows
details of providing water proof course at plinth level. Whereas Figure 9.2 shows the details of water proofing
course for wall and floor. Figure 9.3 shows details of water proofing course for basement.
2. Providing cavity wall: Cavity wall may be constructed to protect foundation masonry and the wall as shown in
Fig. 9.4. The cavity prevents moisture travelling from outer to inner wall.
3. Surface treatment: If moisture is only superficial and not under pressure this method is useful. It consists of
application of layer of water repellant compounds on the surface. Some of the water proofing agents used for such
treatment are silicates of sodium or potassium and sulphates of aluminium, zinc and magnesium.
4. Integral treatment: It consists in mixing commercially available compounds in water before concrete is wet
mixed. These compounds are made from chalk, talc, flutter earth or chemical compounds like calcium chloride,
aluminium sulphate, calcium chloride etc. Some compounds contain compounds like soap, petroleum oils, fatty
acids etc.
5. Guniting: In this method a mixture of cement and water is forced by cement gun on the surface to be made
water proof. Later 1 : 3 or 1 : 4 cement mortar is applied to the surface with pressure using compressed air. Thus
an impervious layer of mortar is provided.
6. Pressure grouting: This is the method used to seal cracks in the concrete surfaces. In this method cement
grout is forced under pressure.

Damp Proofing Material

1- Flexible Materials:
The materials, which do not crack and deform their shape when subjected to loading, are called Flexible
Materials
a- Bitumen Mastic (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 (when hot) to a depth of 2.5cm to 5cm, which sets on cooling. It
provides good impervious layer but special care is needed in its laying.
b- Bitumen Felts (Sheets): It consists of 6mm thick sheet of bitumen prepared in rolls having width
equal to that of brick wall.
c- Hot laid Bitumen: This material is used on a bedding of cement concrete or mortar. This should
be applied in two layers at the rate of 1.75kg/ m2 of the area.
d- Metal Sheets: Metal sheets of Copper, Aluminum, or Lead are used to prevent dampness, but they
are costly. Sheets of these materials are used through out the thickness of the wall. The sheets of
Lead are laid over Lime Mortar and not with Cement Mortar due to the chemical reaction of Cement over
the Lead. The sheets of metal should be coated with asphalt. The thickness of the sheets should
not be less than 3mm.

2- Rigid Materials: The materials, which do not resist transverse stresses and cracks when subjected
to sever loading, are known as Rigid Materials.
a- Rich 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.
b- 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.
c- Bricks: Over burnt or dense bricks in one or two layers can be used as cheap and effective DPC.
They are laid in Rich Cement and Sand Mortar (1:3) Bricks are rarely used as DPC except in cheap
houses.
d- Stones or Slates: Two layers of stone slabs or slates laid in Lime, Cement and Sand Mortar (1:1:6)
make a best DPC. They can also be laid in Cement Sand Mortar. It is used where a good quality of
stone is easily and cheaply available

Cement plastered Finish

It is prepared in the form of mortar with cement, sand and water in proper proportions and applied on masonry manually to achieve a smooth
finish or sand faced finish.

Cement Textured Finish

This is a decorative finish and its mortar is prepared in cement based material. It is applied with sand faced plaster with a trowel and after that it is
coloured with paint.

Plaster of Paris Finish

Plaster of Paris or simply plaster is a type of building material based on calcium sulphate hemihydrates. This is a smooth finish achieved by
plaster of Paris generally applied on internal walls.

Gypsum Plaster Finish

This just like plaster of Paris finish but gypsum based material is used to prepare mortar. It is more durable and finer as compared to Plaster of
Paris Finish.

Glass Mosaic Finish

Glass mosaic tiles are small 1x1 on a cloth to get a workable size 12x12 and this tile is pasted with an adhesive on wall surfaces. It can also be
pasted on curved surfaces.

Designer Mirror Finish

Designer mirrors are obtained by small pieces on walls to create mural like design.

Laminate Finish

Laminate comes in various colours and designs. It comes in the form of sheet and is pasted with fevicol on Plywood.

Marble Powder Finish

This is a very smooth finish. The finish looks like Marble flooring. This finish is obtained by mortar of marble powder, white cement and water. It is
applied manually

Stained Glass Finish

It involves lot of creative work. The glass is decorated with itching, frosting, glass pasting and finally colouring with suitable colours according to
the theme. The stained glass panels are used on walls and ceilings.

Pebbles Finish

This a very simple and attractive finish obtained by pasting small pebbles on the walls with cement mortar as an adhesive.

Pebbles finish is usually preferred for exterior facade. It is also commonly used to give nice flowing effect to the waterfalls that are created
especially designed for Hotel Interiors or as a part of Exterior Landscaping.

Flakes Finish

It is a special material used to enhance the elevation treatment of the building. It is majorly used for the exterior facade. It has also been used for
the interiors but to a very small extent. Application of flakes finish is avoided in the interiors because chipping off of flakes is a trouble.

The flakes are applied with a trovel on walls over a coat of adhesive.

Coral Finish

Coral finish is similar to Plaster of Paris Finish and Gypsum Plaster Finish. Coral is the name of a type of plastering material. It gives a rough edgy
finish.

Canfor Finish

Canfor finish is also known as Faux finish. This material is used for the interiors of residences. It adds a unique aesthetic appeal to the place. It
comes in 6mm thickness and in different designs.

This finish is chosen when a false finish is to be given. It gives a stone wall or brick wall effect.

Tile Cladding

Different tiles, for example, granite, marble, glazed tiles or vitrified tiles are used for tile cladding. Tiles are available in a variety of colours and
shapes. The selection of tiles depends on the place where it is to be applied i.e. interior facade or exterior facade.

Wood Panelling

It is a decorative treatment done with wooden panels on the walls in various designs. The material used can be plywood or wood covered with
veneer or laminate.

Sand Textured Finish

Sand Textured finish is used to give fine texture to the wall. This wall finish is not very commonly used because of its grains coming out.