Box Type Waterproofing
A continuous barrier wrapping an entire below-grade structure — beneath the raft, up every retaining wall and sealed above ground level — so the structure effectively sits inside a sealed box.
On an actual building
It is the reliable answer where groundwater exerts permanent pressure, because there is no edge or joint for water to find. Its integrity depends almost entirely on the lap between the base membrane and the wall membrane.
What we most often have to correct
That the material choice is what matters. The lap detail at the raft-to-wall junction decides whether it works.
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Water Stop
A PVC strip or swellable hydrophilic profile cast into a construction joint to block water travelling along it.
- HDPE Membrane
High-density polyethylene sheet with a coated face, laid before concrete is poured so that the concrete bonds mechanically to it..
- Hydrostatic Pressure
The pressure exerted by standing water against a structure, increasing with depth below the water level..
More below grade terms
Box Type Waterproofing — questions we get asked
What does box type waterproofing mean in waterproofing?
A continuous barrier wrapping an entire below-grade structure — beneath the raft, up every retaining wall and sealed above ground level — so the structure effectively sits inside a sealed box.
Why does box type waterproofing matter on a real project?
It is the reliable answer where groundwater exerts permanent pressure, because there is no edge or joint for water to find. Its integrity depends almost entirely on the lap between the base membrane and the wall membrane.
What do people commonly get wrong about box type waterproofing?
That the material choice is what matters. The lap detail at the raft-to-wall junction decides whether it works.
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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