Costly and complicated problems arise because of soil conditions, water tables, improperly cured concrete, improperly designed foundations, and poor workmanship. In addition, groundwater conditions can change. It's very costly to do something about waterproofing later, says Anderson. That's why taking precautions at the beginning of a project is important. Designers, as well as owners, need to understand the complexity of the problem.
Most leaks occur at joints, at structural connections, or at shrinkage cracks in concrete.
Place waterproofing treatment directly on the concrete or wood substrate. Do not place insulating materials between two waterproofing membranes. This causes water entrapment problems. Backfill with a granular material compacted to about 88 percent modified Proctor density. Many specs call out 95 percent modified Proctor density for backfill around walls.