Illustration: typical waterproofing layers on a roof slab and a damp-proof course (DPC) at plinth level. Not to scale. Every monsoon, many Gorakhpur families see the same problems: a damp patch on the ceiling, peeling paint near the floor, a musty smell in the bedroom next to the bathroom, or white salt marks on the outer wall. Heavy seasonal rain and a high water table in many parts of the city mean water attacks a house from above and below. The good news is that most of th