Basement Waterproofing in London Homes – What You Need to Know

A large number of London homes have a basement; some use this below-ground space for storage, while others turn it into living space; the property owner might decide to make the basement a 1 bedroom flat, which they rent out for a regular income. Then there are a few London houses that have extra floors to greatly increase the living space by building huge underground rooms.

High water table

London is also a wet, low-lying region with a bed of clay and this means damp can attack basements and cellars. There are specialised companies that offer basement tanking in London and they have more than 40 years of hands-on experience waterproofing basements. Such a company would offer a full 30-year guarantee on their work.

Basement tanking

This involves the use of waterproof plaster and render; the basement is emptied of all items and the damp-proofing team remove all damp plaster and the substrate is cleaned and dried. The ceilings are also cleaned and prepared, then the first coat of water-resistant plaster is applied and allowed to dry completely before another coat is added. When this coat is dry, a final skim of plaster is added and that should keep the interior dry at all times. The flooring also needs to be treated with waterproof render and screed, then the space can be used in any way you prefer.

Cavity drainage system

This is a system that is very effective at waterproofing basements; first, remove all plaster (damaged and undamaged) from all ceilings and walls, then prepare the substrate for fixing the cavity membrane, which is studded to create a space behind the wall. The studded membrane is also fitted to ceilings, as well as the walls, while channels are created under the flooring, with a sump and pump to channel water to the designated drainage points. Essentially, this system isolates the interior from the exterior by creating a cavity for the water to run down into the floor channels. Even very wet areas can be waterproofed using this method, making it very effective in wet areas where waterproof plaster is inadequate. An average-sized basement might take 3-4 days to waterproof and when everything is dry, you can bring in the furniture and the space is ready for occupation. The damp-proofing company are so confident in their work that they issue a no-quibble 30-year guarantee; if damp returns, they will fix it at no cost to the customer.

Independent damp survey for basements

If your basement is not waterproof, it is time to contact London Damp Specialists and book an independent damp survey of your underground living space. Our certified damp surveyors are very experienced and they can quickly pinpoint the origins of moisture that enters the space. The inspector can recommend the best solution to keep your basement dry at all times, plus we can recommend the best basement tanking contractor in London to carry out the work.

Don’t take any chances when it comes to damp and mould, contact London Damp Specialists on 020 7205 4886 or complete the survey booking form in this website.