How today’s architecture is informed by the waterproofing of the past

by Josh Jinks, Brand Manager at UltraTile

Waterproofing has played a vital role in construction for millennia, enabling the preservation and longevity of architectural structures. From early civilisations to contemporary smart technologies, the evolution of waterproofing materials and techniques provides insight into how materials and methods have evolved to meet increasingly complex demands. 

For architects, understanding this development helps contextualise modern systems while informing future design decisions in both heritage-sensitive and innovative environments.

Ancient origins: material ingenuity

The earliest known waterproofing efforts date back to the fifth millennium BCE, when naturally occurring bitumen was applied to waterproof items. This sticky, viscous form of petroleum laid the groundwork for practices that would support some of the most enduring architectural achievements in human history. 

For example, in the Indus Valley, around 3000 BCE, builders constructed the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro, widely considered the earliest public water tank. This structure demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of water management and impermeability using rudimentary yet effective materials.

In Ancient Egypt, similar waterproofing methods were employed during the construction of the pyramids, with engineers using bituminous and resin-based materials to prevent water infiltration in burial chambers and foundations. 

By the time of the Roman Empire, concrete mixtures had advanced to include aggregates such as broken tiles and ceramics, yielding a durable, water-resistant building material used extensively in aqueducts, bath houses, and cisterns. This ancient Roman concrete, notably water-resistant, remained unmatched in performance until the development of modern equivalents in the 19th century.

Medieval developments and regional adaptations

By the Middle Ages, waterproofing solutions had diversified according to social class and regional materials. Peasant dwellings across Europe commonly featured wattle and daub walls – a composite of wooden lattices infilled with clay, sand and straw that offered moderate protection against rain. Roofs were typically thatched, angled to facilitate runoff and reduce the risk of internal water damage.

In contrast, fortified buildings such as castles employed more durable construction strategies indicative of the owner or tenant’s wealth and status. Stone masonry integrated drainage systems, including carved gutters and early pipework, to direct rainwater away from vulnerable areas. 

Timber elements, often used internally, were coated with natural oils or tar-based substances to reduce moisture ingress. These strategies, while relatively rudimentary, demonstrated a clear intent to integrate water management into architectural design.

Industrial-era advancements and Portland Cement 

The Industrial Revolution introduced a new wave of innovation, dramatically altering waterproofing materials and their applications. A pivotal development was Joseph Aspdin’s invention of Portland Cement in the early 19th century. 

This hydraulic binder mimicked and, in many cases, surpassed the performance of Roman concrete, providing a foundation for modern construction practices. The formulation allowed structures to be built in moist environments with greatly improved resistance to water penetration.

Simultaneously, the invention of vulcanised rubber in the 1830s, established by treating rubber with sulphur and heat, enabled the creation of sheets and membranes that could be used as liners or roofing layers.

These changes helped herald a shift from waterproofing by material mass (e.g., thick masonry or bitumen coatings) to thin, flexible barriers that could be applied to a wider range of building geometries and substrates.

Industrial-era advancements and Portland Cement 

In the 20th century, the introduction of synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane helped revolutionise waterproofing. Providing flexibility, chemical resistance and an extended service life, these materials became standard in waterproofing projects for roofing, basements and other wet areas. 

Thanks to the proliferation of different and viable waterproofing materials, designers and architects had the ability to select their waterproofing based on their project-specific requirements. Considerations like elongation capacity, curing time and environmental resistance became more important than ever, and a new level of decision precision became increasingly attainable. 

Waterproofing gradually came to be considered as a system, rather than an afterthought, with modern architects considering detailing at junctions, penetrations and transitions essential to the performance of a building envelope. 

Looking ahead to the future 

Contemporary innovation is continuing to give the modern architect more tools than ever to waterproof their building designs. Nanotechnology, already being used for hydrophobic coatings, is enabling the creation of breathable yet waterproof barriers at a molecular level. These ultra-thin films allow vapour diffusion while repelling liquid water, providing an ideal solution for heritage conservation and new-build applications where moisture regulation is critical. 

Self-healing materials are forming another exciting development; self-healing concrete contains encapsulated agents that activate upon cracking, effectively resealing minor breaches before they become problematic. These technologies offer long-term performance benefits that are increasingly beneficial in inaccessible or high-risk areas. 

As buildings become increasingly integrated into digital urban networks as part of the smart cities of tomorrow, we might yet see future waterproofing systems with embedded sensors that can detect water ingress and trigger an automated response. 

So, from the use of bitumen in ancient societies to the use of intelligent membranes, the history of waterproofing is one of continuous adaptation and technological refinement. As climate change and urban densification impose new challenges, resilient and intelligent waterproofing strategies will be increasingly integral in the world of architecture.