Basement Waterproofing

What is Basement Waterproofing?

Basement Waterproofing is a general term used to describe methods of waterproofing to protect your basement from when water builds up below ground, raising the water table and potentially leading to hydrostatic water pressure. Structural weaknesses can occur if water penetrates through cracks and joints and breaks out onto the basement floor.

The Three Types of Waterproofing Systems

Within the UK there are three separate and distinct methods of waterproofing a property against the ingress of water from the earth surrounding the below ground structure. Each one will be explained in detail here, but to give a rundown they are as follows. Type A Waterproofing, or Barrier Protection waterproofing provides protection to a property with the application of a waterproof material to either the interior or exterior walls and flooring of below-ground property, forming a barrier between the two. Type B Waterproofing, or Structurally Integral protection is all carried out by the design and materials of the property itself. The Type B method of waterproofing is reliant on the overall design, waterproof materials used and the quality of the actual build process to provide protection against below ground water ingress. Type C Waterproofing, or drained protection, is carried out with the application of an internal water management system (most commonly a cavity drainage system), which allows water to travel through the properties actual walls before being collected within a drainage system and channelled to a sump pump for proper and safe disposal away from the property itself. All of these different waterproofing solutions are valid and worth considering when it comes to your property, but each of them also have positive and negative factors that should be taken into account before being chosen or relied upon.

Benefits of Waterproofing Your Basement

Basement Waterproofing is a vital element to consider if you are converting your basement. It is equally important if you have noticed waterproofing issues in your current basement. Specifying the basement waterproofing solutions for a damp basement or cellar is the most important aspect of a basement conversion project. Timberwise are able to advise you from the start of your basement conversion project on what is the best method of basement waterproofing. For most people a basement is just an old, musty storage space for your junk and a place to do laundry, however, there is a lot more potential to this. If you are looking at it from a square footage point of view, the basement accounts for the entire floor. That’s a lot of wasted space that could be used for so much more instead of being dedicated to bacteria and mould growth. Using this space can not only create an opportunity for creating a new lifestyle for you and your family including a home office or a playroom for your children it will, in fact, add value to your property.

Causes & Signs of Built-up Water in your Basement

Investigating the solutions to a wet or flooded basement should always start outside of your home. It is important to make sure all your home’s gutters, downspouts or other drainage systems are working efficiently and are diverting the water away from your home. The grade of soil around the foundation should encourage water to flow away from exterior walls, not toward them. In many cases, houses and basements can be structurally sound, but are not often built to handle water drainage. Failure to slope the ground surface away from the foundation or lack of a good gutter or drainage system is common among most properties. The signs that you may have water in your basement are:

• Condensation on cold walls and floor in summer
• Damp, humid air
• Standing water on the floor
• Water trickling out of walls
• Staining and blistering of wall covering

How Basement Waterproofing is Carried Out?

As you can see below from our before and after pictures, waterproofing a basement can transform what often can be seen as an old and abandoned area of a property into a beautiful living space. Our team of qualified waterproofing contractors will ensure that any basement waterproofing is carried out to the highest standards and it will leave you with a wonderful new space, free from damp. We also provide long-term guarantees for all works carried out, to ensure that your property is in the hands of the professionals.

Before Basement Waterproofing Has Taken Place

This is an image taken before started work. You can clearly see the basement is heavily damaged as a result of water ingress and at this point, it is in desperate need of renovation. The water pressure has exerted on the floor and walls of the basement which can lead to water penetration through cracks, joints and structural weaknesses in the basement. Our team of highly skilled basement waterproofing contractors controlled the ingress and flow of the water to a pre-determined evacuation point by the use of cavity drainage systems. The flow of the water is controlled through a perimeter drainage channel and directed to a suitable drainage point or sump pump. Once the cavity wall drainage membrane has been fitted, wall surfaces can be dry lined or plastered directly. Like most traditional tanking systems which work by suppressing the water behind the basement walls, the cavity drain membrane works by preventing pressure from building up against the internal wall structure allowing the structure to breathe out.

After Basement Waterproofing Services Has Taken Place

Following the waterproofing process, we left the customer with a warm, cosy and welcoming area. From a disused, dark and wet basement, to a fantastic living space, just as it should be. Over recent years there has been an ever-increasing demand for more usable space within homes – after all, there is only so far outwards and upwards homes can be extended! The result of the need for more space has created an extensive and widespread demand for the conversion of damp basement areas into dry usable rooms using a variety of basement waterproofing techniques. We will provide you with the best basement waterproofing solutions based on the survey carried out.

How a Waterproofing Survey is Carried Out?

Booking a Survey-Once you’ve contacted Timberwise via 0800 288 8660 or filling a request a survey form you can outline the issues that are causing problems in your property. If the survey controller believes that there is a cause for concern, then they will arrange a convenient time and date that is best suited to you. Surveyor Visit – Surveyor will provide a full inspection of the property and conduct a survey detailing any problems that they have detected. Written Report – A report will be sent to you outlining the issues discussed on the day of the inspection and provide any initial costs of the repairs that you may need.

Effective Basement Waterproofing Systems

At Timberwise, we have the ability to install effective waterproofing systems to rectify any issues in your property. Depending on the individual needs of the customer, we will offer a number of ways to damp proof your basement. Make sure you ask for your specialist’s recommendation as per your needs as we are more than happy to talk through these options in detail. The first step is to request a survey from our team of specialists who can see the wet basement first-hand and start the process of turning it into a dry living space. Converting a basement or cellar is a specialist task and waterproofing a basement should only be undertaken by qualified experts. Timberwise waterproofing surveyors hold the CSSW qualification – Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing. Our team work closely with the homeowner to provide a waterproofing solution that is right for you and your needs which compiles with the latest BS regulations (BS8102). Couple that with long-term guarantees you can be confident your basement and property are in the hands of basement waterproofing specialists.

Contact Our Basement Waterproofing Contractors

All our basement solutions also benefit from our design and installation services along with our long-term insurance backed guarantees ensuring you have complete peace of mind that your basement will remain dry for the year to come. You can trust Timberwise to provide you with the right basement waterproofing systems to solve your damp basement problem. Don’t hesitate to contact Timberwise by calling on 0800 288 8660 or you can request a survey online. A survey through Timberwise, will allow our waterproofing contractors to be able to identify the full extent of the problem and determine whether further basement solutions may be necessary for your property.