Rain, snow, or hail can ruin just about everything if waterproofing is not used. Over the centuries people tried various methods to prevent this problem. Among others they used lanolin from wool and wax. These materials washed out or fell off. On boats, tar or pitch was used, but this too did not work well. Over the years many different trials to prevent wetness were tried and failed.
Oilcloth was developed in the 1800’s by Otis Ferrin, an inventor. This was developed by using heavy oil on heavy material. In the same era Charles Macintosh manufactured waterproof raincoats called Mackintoshes. This material was made by placing liquid rubber between two layers of wool. For many years this was the only thing that was available to protect against the damage caused by wetness.
With the development of plastics in the 40’s an entirely new avenue was opened in the area of repelling liquids. Silicon Polymer, Teflon, and Scotchgard became leaders in the field. While these materials were used with clothing, it soon developed into uses in the building industry and in hundreds of other places. Today no building with a building permit, is erected in the United States without protection against water or other liquid damage.
This protection is used in building structures (basements, decks, roofs, and other areas that get wet), in paper (milk and juice cartons), watercraft, canvas, and clothing. Exposure to the weather can cost thousands of dollars in materials and lost time for the building industry. Without its use on paper it would be impossible to have inexpensive containers. For watercraft, canvas, and clothing this protects and prolongs its life.
This process has also progressed into the paper industry with its use on various items that protect the contents from leaking. The most well-known is the milk carton still seen in stores today.
Extreme caution must be taken to ensure the proper materials are used and complete sealing is accomplished. Because of previous problems, most cities have a building code that requires this work to be done and it would benefit one to research the codes in your city in order to ensure your home is safe from environmental threats.
For many years the boating industry fought against damage to their crafts caused by salt water and storms. There was nothing they could do except keep painting and patching. With the discovery of water resistant materials they have finally been able to preserve the finish on their boats. People who scuba dive and do other things connected with the water have been delighted to find water resistant equipment that provides additional protection as well as provides a barrier against the elements.
Through time a number of methods were used for waterproofing, including treating with lanolin from wool, covering fabric with wax, tar or pitch on boars, none of these processes were perfect. We’ve got the best inside scoop on reliable waterproofing companies .