Moisture in historic structures remains one of the greatest challenges in building rehabilitation, particularly in properties with semi-buried ground floors and walls in direct contact with the soil. In these cases, water not only acts from the outside but also exerts pressure from within the substrate, generating what is known as negative-side water pressure — a pathology that is difficult to control without specific solutions.
Eagle Waterproofing, a specialist in advanced waterproofing solutions, has successfully resolved this issue in a single-family home built in 1929. The property, listed as a modernist building, suffered from severe structural moisture problems in its semi-buried ground floor, directly affecting key living areas such as the kitchen and dining room.
The challenge: structural moisture in a nearly 100-year-old home
The house featured a semi-buried ground floor, with rear walls in direct contact with the garden soil. Rising damp and negative pressure moisture had caused visible stains, deterioration of interior finishes, and an unhealthy environment in daily-use areas.
The goal of the intervention was to block moisture ingress from the substrate without resorting to invasive solutions or compromising the architectural value of the building.
The solution: UltraDry as a moisture-blocking barrier
Taking advantage of a full kitchen renovation, ULTRADRY® was applied — a low-viscosity, two-component epoxy resin specifically designed to act as a negative-side moisture blocker and vapor barrier.
The intervention process included the following steps:
- Removal of existing vertical finishes (wood cladding and tiles).
- Thorough cleaning of the substrate and surface regularization using render.
- Single-coat application: ULTRADRY® applied by roller (approx. 450 g/m²), providing an effective solution in just one coat.
- Subsequent skim coating to achieve a smooth surface, followed by the application of white paint.
- Installation of the new kitchen.
UltraDry: technology designed to perform where other systems fall short
ULTRADRY® ULTRADRY® is a two-component epoxy resin, applicable in a single layer, offering key performance benefits in complex moisture scenarios:
- Absorbs up to 98% of residual moisture in the substrate.
- Blocks negative-side water pressure up to 10 bar.
- Acts as a vapor barrier (Sd = 61).
- Suitable for accelerating the curing of so-called “green concrete”.
- Enables fast, effective and long-lasting rehabilitation, even in historic buildings.
Thanks to the application of ULTRADRY®, the home effectively eliminated moisture affecting the buried walls of the ground floor, without needing complex structural interventions, significantly improving indoor comfort and the functionality of the renovated spaces.
“ULTRADRY was developed to provide solution to complex moisture problems, such as negative water pressure in historic structures. This case study proves how the combination of technical expertise and dedicated solutions from Eagle delivers safety and durability, even in buildings with nearly a century of history,”.
Technology applied to real moisture challenges
This project reflects Eagle Waterproofing’s philosophy: developing solutions rooted in real on-site conditions, capable of resolving complex pathologies through effective, easy-to-apply and technically proven systems.
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Eagle Waterproofing en NORDBAT 2026
Eagle Waterproofing Group will be present at NORDBAT 2026, the leading trade fair for construction and public works professionals in northern France, taking place on February 11, 12 and 13 at Lille Grand Palais.
The company will exhibit at stand A20, where its technical team will showcase its liquid waterproofing solutions and share real-world application experiences from complex projects.
