# Waterproofing in Construction

> Waterproofing keeps water out of terraces, basements, sumps and bathroom slabs using membranes, coatings and admixtures. See a 72-hour ponding test example.

Canonical: https://superwise.site/glossary/waterproofing/
Last updated: 2026-11-01

The treatment that stops water from entering a structure, applied to basements, terraces, sumps and bathroom floors.

## What is Waterproofing?

Waterproofing is the engineering work that stops water from getting into a building. In India, where monsoons are severe, it is the highest-risk activity. It uses bituminous coatings, liquid-applied polyurethane membranes or crystalline [admixtures](https://superwise.site/glossary/admixtures/) on the roof terrace, underground basements, [UG sumps](https://superwise.site/glossary/underground-sump/) and sunken bathroom slabs.

## Practical example

Before paving the open terrace of an apartment tower, the waterproofing contractor applies three layers of a liquid elastomeric membrane over the concrete slab and runs it 300 mm up the parapet wall. The [QA](https://superwise.site/glossary/quality-assurance-quality-control/) engineer then plugs the terrace drains and floods the roof with 2 inches of water for 72 hours (a ponding test). If the ceiling below stays dry, the waterproofing passes.

## In SuperWise

In SuperWise a ponding test can be a checklist with number, photo and signature fields, for example a photo of the flooded terrace at the start and another after 72 hours. Each filled checklist records who filled it and when. Set as the finish checklist of the waterproofing task, with the checklist enforced, it must be approved before the task can be marked complete.

[Quality and safety checklists](https://superwise.site/features/construction-quality-safety/)

## Related terms

- [Admixtures (Construction Chemicals)](https://superwise.site/glossary/admixtures/)
- [Underground Sump (UG Sump)](https://superwise.site/glossary/underground-sump/)
- [Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quality-assurance-quality-control/)
- [Damp Proof Course (DPC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/damp-proof-course/)

## Related
- [Admixtures (Construction Chemicals)](https://superwise.site/glossary/admixtures/)
- [Underground Sump (UG Sump)](https://superwise.site/glossary/underground-sump/)
- [Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quality-assurance-quality-control/)
- [Damp Proof Course (DPC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/damp-proof-course/)
- [Quality and safety checklists](https://superwise.site/features/construction-quality-safety/)