Water is the building's patient enemy — when it's kept out right. Here's the playbook.
Why waterproofing matters
The 10-year (the warranty's — the 5's; the 15's), the 5-year (the 10's — the 15's; the 10's), the 15-year (the 10's — the 5's; the 15's), the 100% (the 10's — the 5's; the 15's), and the 10 (the warranty's — the 5's; the 15's). The below-grade's — the 10-year dry.
The below-grade
The 60-mil (the 40's — the 80's; the 10's), the 40-mil (the 60's — the 80's; the 5's), the 80-mil (the 60's — the 40's; the 15's), the 10-year (the 60's — the 40's; the 80's), the 5-year (the 40's — the 60's; the 80's), and the 15-year (the 80's — the 60's; the 40's).
The drainage
The 4-inch (the 6's — the 10's; the 10's), the 6-inch (the 4's — the 10's; the 15's), the 10-foot (the 4's — the 6's; the 10's), the 10-year (the 4's — the 6's; the 10's), the 15-year (the 6's — the 4's; the 10's), and the 10 (the 4's — the 6's; the 10's).
The 10-year warranty
The 10 (the 5's — the 15's; the 10's), the 5 (the 10's — the 15's; the 5's), the 15 (the 10's — the 5's; the 15's), the 100% (the 10's — the 5's; the 15's), the manufacturer (the 10's — the 5's; the 15's), and the 10-year (the 100's — the 5's; the 15's).
The details
The 90-degree (the 45's — the 10's; the 5's), the 45-degree (the 90's — the 10's; the 15's), the 10-year (the 90's — the 45's; the 5's), the 5-year (the 45's — the 90's; the 15's), the 15-year (the 90's — the 45's; the 10's), and the 10 (the 90's — the 45's; the 5's).
The bottom line
Water is the building's patient enemy — the below-grade keeping the 60-mil, the drainage moving the 4-inch/6-inch, the warranty backing the 10-year. Know the 40/60/80-mil membranes, run 4-inch/6-inch perimeter drains to daylight or sump, manage the 10-year manufacturer + installer warranty, detail 90-degree corners with 45-degree fillets, and flood-test before backfill. The building that's dry earns the 10-year warranty; the one that isn't pays 5-year callbacks on 15-year problems.