5 Places Your New Home WILL Leak (Unless You Do This!)

You just painted your dream home. It looks perfect. Then comes June. The monsoon hits. Suddenly, you see a wet patch spreading on your beautiful living room wall. Or worse, the paint starts bubbling and peeling off like dead skin.

"But the house is brand new!" you scream.

Here is the hard truth: Concrete is porous. It drinks water like a sponge. In Kerala’s heavy rain, if you don't seal the "entry points," water will find a way in. At Jack Constructions, we don't just build walls; we build "Shields." Here are the 5 zones where leaks start—and how we stop them before they happen.

1. The Foundation (The "Rising Damp")

Ever seen a wall that is wet only at the bottom (near the skirting board)? That’s "Rising Damp."

• The Cause: The bricks suck up groundwater from the soil like a straw (Capillary Action).

• The Fix: We install a DPC (Damp Proof Course).

  • What is it? A layer of concrete mixed with waterproofing chemicals, poured between the foundation and the brick wall. It acts as a physical barrier. Groundwater hits the DPC and stops. It can never climb up your wall.
    

2. The Sunken Slab (The Bathroom Nightmare)

If your bedroom ceiling has a damp patch, the problem isn't the roof; it’s the bathroom above it.

• The Cause: Water seeping through the tile joints of the upstairs bathroom floor.

• The Fix: We treat the bathroom floor like a swimming pool.

  • Step 1: We apply a flexible waterproofing membrane (like Dr. Fixit Fastflex) on the concrete slab before laying tiles.

  • Step 2: We conduct a "Ponding Test"—filling the bathroom with water for 48 hours to check for leaks. Only if it stays dry do we lay the tiles.
    

3. The Terrace (The Heat Crack)

Flat roofs expand in summer heat and contract in monsoon rain. This movement creates hairline cracks.

• The Cause: Water enters these invisible cracks and travels through the slab, dripping onto your fan or light fixture.

• The Fix: Don't rely on just the concrete.

  • Layer 1: Apply a UV-resistant acrylic coating (white roof paint).

  • Layer 2 (The Pro Move): Lay a protective layer of roofing tiles or a Truss Roof over the slab. If the sun can't hit the concrete directly, it won't crack.
    

4. The Window Frame (The Silicon Gap)

Rain lashes against your window glass and runs down.

• The Cause: If there is a tiny gap between the aluminium/UPVC frame and the plastered wall, water gets sucked in.

• The Fix: We use External Grade Silicon Sealant.

  • We run a thick bead of silicon around the entire perimeter of the window frame. It’s flexible, so even if the wall vibrates or settles, the seal doesn't break.
    

5. The Exterior Walls (The Algae Magnet)

Kerala rain doesn't fall straight down; it hits sideways.

• The Cause: Standard paint absorbs water. This leads to algae (black fungus) and dampness inside the room.

• The Fix:

  • Design: Ensure your Sunshades project at least 60cm out to protect the wall.

  • Paint: Use High-Elongation Paint. These paints stretch like rubber to cover small cracks so water just slides off.

Waterproofing is like insurance. You hate paying for it until you need it. Fixing a leak after the house is built costs 10x more than doing it right the first time.

Building a new home? Ask your builder for their "Waterproofing Protocol." If they just say, "We mix some liquid in the cement," run.

👉 Get a Waterproofing Consultation - +91 94001 00010