The Thompson's Company was launched in 1929 in Hollister, California. Edward Addis Thompson, owner of the company and a polymer chemist, developed a product that protected buildings from exterior water damage. His discovery led to the formulation of Thompson's® Water Seal® Clear Multi-Surface Waterproofer, which initially was used by architectural and construction firms for concrete applications.

Over the next decades, the formula protected not only commercial structures and highways, but also such diverse projects as the Parthenon in Greece, wooden roller coasters across the United States, and the Navy's canvas jackets.

After recognizing the fast-growing deck-building trend in the early 1980's, The Thompson's Company began marketing Thompson's WaterSeal® Clear Multi-Surface Waterproofer to homeowners, who made it their number one choice for protection against water damage.