Newton Waterproofing is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, marking an impressive milestone for the UK’s leading independent designers and suppliers of guaranteed waterproofing systems.
Established by John Newton in 1848, the company started out as a specialist supplier of plasterers’ hair, and in 1931, expanded by pioneering the air gap method of damp proofing with the design and production of the first physical damp proof membrane ‘Newtonite’.
Over five million square metres of the original Newtonite membrane were installed in the UK, including helping to create dry, hospitable housing across post-war London.
By the 1980s, Newton had launched the first HDPE membrane with a mesh surface that could be plastered directly onto – since then, Newlath has continued to be the industry leading damp proof membrane, with over two million square metres installed across the country.
In 1986, Newton developed and launched the flagship ‘System 500’ basement waterproofing solution and the first cavity drain waterproofing system of its kind, designed to be installed internally in any below-ground structure.
By 2003, the company had implemented the Newton Specialist Basement Contractor (NSBC) scheme, the first approved contractor network for waterproofing, providing reliability and peace of mind to designers and clients.
Due to an expanding product range and growing staff, in 2012, Newton Waterproofing opened its head office in Tonbridge, Kent, and in 2020, formed the Newton Specification Partnership. This nationwide network of approved architects and specifiers works directly with Newton to provide high quality, technically sound waterproofing solutions for any basement or below-ground structure.
Another big milestone for the company came last year, with the opening of Newton’s northern branch and distribution centre in Leeds, giving customers across the North and Midlands quicker and easier access to its range of products and technical services.
Today, Newton Waterproofing boasts an extensive range of high quality products, and has been involved in several high profile waterproofing projects, from the London School of Economics, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal College of Music in London, to the Hotel Football and the Arndale Centre in Manchester .
The company is also committed to professional development, providing extensive training on waterproofing best practice through its dedicated School of Waterproofing, and has been running its award-winning Recycling Service, the first closed-loop recycling scheme in the UK waterproofing industry, since 2017.
Newton Waterproofing Managing Director Warren Muschialli comments:
“Newton Waterproofing has a very long and rich history, and to reach 175 years is an incredible milestone for the company. From a small start-up business back in the 1840s, Newton has evolved and grown into the UK’s leading independent waterproofing suppliers, and we’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come.
“We owe a huge thank you to all our partners and valued customers who have joined us over the years for their continued support, and we very much look forward to many more successful decades ahead.”