Below-grade Waterproofing

Words: Dan Kamys/Public/News/462004823.gif" width="150" height="115" border="0" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="1"> All foundations will eventually get cracks, typically within the first year. Some coatings stretch over the cracks but become weaker, while others can crack with the foundation leaving your wall prone to headwater pressure. Typical tar coatings may dissipate into the soil in as little as five years due to ground settlement and the alkalis in the soil.

While a coating may seal the foundation, keeping water out, it does not provide for soil drainage and may also trap moisture caused by high indoor humidity and dampness inside the home. This interior moisture can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth.

Superseal Dimpled Membrane is a tough 24-mil HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene Membrane). Superseal Dimpled membrane is unrolled against the concrete block foundation with the dimples facing the wall and fastened with Superseal DimpleGrip Molding along the entire top edge, hanging like a curtain. Vertical joins are overlapped and buttoned like a shirt with Superseal Plugs. This creates an air space that keeps the backfill from touching the concrete block foundation while allowing construction or interior moisture to condense on the membrane and fall freely to the drainage tile for removal. Superseal Dimpled Membrane is not a coating so it has no curing time and can be backfilled immediately to provide waterproofing and 6.6 gal/min/ft of drainage in one application. Typical wall cracks do not affect the membrane's performance and it is resistant to alkalis, acids and salts. It also contains 30% HDPE recycled content. The E.P.A. estimates HDPE will take about 300 years to degrade when buried.

Superseal Dimpled Membrane was awarded a CCMC approval, is pending an ICC approval, and meets all U.S. and Canadian standards, ASTM and CGSB requirements.

Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma