Proper waterproofing is a homeowner's first line of defense against gradual structural weakening caused by water seeping into a house from above and below. As a result, waterproofing should be one of the first improvements a homeowner considers, as it is far better, and more cost-effective, to avoid rather than endure a catastrophe in the future.
You first need to know the function and purpose of waterproofing to understand why it is so important. Many things are waterproofed, from milk cartons to raincoats and camping tents, but it is waterproofing of the home that we are interested in here. In a home, it is interior and exterior walls, basements, pipes and joints, roofs and foundations that are most likely to need waterproofing, and anywhere else that water might be present. Adequate waterproofing requires more than a commercial sealant that comes in a tube, or another coat of paint. These measures are more cosmetic than anything else and don't address the underlying problem of why there is damp in the first place. Waterproofing should not only sort out the cause of the problem but prevent its recurrence in the long-term.
Waterproofing is important because it protects your home, and the people who live in it, from the severe and unrelenting effects of weather and the environment. It is usually weather that is the most common cause of structural damage in the first place. Mildew, mold and cold, damp interior house walls resulting from lack of waterproofing can cause health problems for you and your family, and the cracks caused by weathering that have not been waterproofed will allow all kinds of creepy crawlies in. Decent waterproofing will also protect your possessions from insects and mildew. Houses that are not properly waterproofed are also not adequately insulated from the weather outside, which can mean you will pay more on heating and cooling.
It makes sense to waterproof your house for these reasons alone, but certain homes have features like flat roofs or basements that make waterproofing an absolute necessity. Flat roofs collect water which then seeps into the house below. Basement waterproofing is also essential as the basement is below the surface of the ground and water in the surrounding earth gets sucked into and up inside the walls. The walls of houses built into and against the sides of mountains or slopes are also at risk, becoming cold and damp with a tendency to 'sweat' if they are not properly waterproofed.
It is a good idea to inspect your house regularly for signs of water damage, inside and out, and not to let small cracks go un-repaired because water will get in, and they will get bigger and require more money and effort to fix in the long run. Peeling or 'bubbling' paint are good indications that water damage has already occurred and that waterproofing needs to be done. Also, make sure your gutters are clear and that you have good runoff around the exterior of the house, there should be no pools of stagnant water against, or near to, the base of exterior walls.
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