Client: Domestic
Our client, a property owner in Oxenhope, contracted Timberwise to provide a design and quotations for a basement waterproofing system to protect their property from water ingress. This work was part of wider renovations to create additional living spaces for two ground floor apartments within the building, a pair of semi-detached villas of solid brick construction.
This building was originally built in the early 1870s for local textile manufacturers Thomas Parker and his son not far from the village of Haworth, famed for the Brontë family of writers and painters (of whom Thomas was familiar). Thomas was also the subject of a painting by Branwell Brontë in December 1838, which is on display at the nearby Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Challenges
As part of the renovation work, the lower ground floor was intended to be divided into two separate living spaces for the apartments above. This would entail excavation works to achieve, which would be difficult not only in removing debris from the site, but also in ensuring the structural integrity of the building while this work commenced.
In addition, if underpinning was required to stabilise the building during this excavation, this could force changes to the specification designed by our surveyor. This would require building the waterproofing works in stages to ensure not only that the building remain stable, but also that the installed waterproofing methods were not damaged during each stage, ensuring their effectiveness.
Above all, great care and attention would be required to ensure the building was kept in its original condition as much as possible during the renovations. Any solution provided would be required to keep the building intact and retain many of the building’s historic features.
Solutions
Our qualified basement waterproofing surveyor used the latest BS8102:2022 compliant methods to deliver a comprehensive and reliable basement waterproofing solution for our client, while also remaining respectful of the building’s historic roots.
Timberwise recognises the Type C basement waterproofing solution as the most effective and trouble-free method of waterproofing. This method involves installing a cavity drainage system in the floor of a basement, as well as a waterproof membrane on both the walls and floor.
Any water attempting to ingress is instead deflected off the waterproof membrane, and flows between the wall and membrane to be collected in a channel at the base of a wall. The collected water is then either diverted out of the building into an existing drainage system via gravity, or into a pump chamber where it is then pumped away from the building. This system prevents hydrostatic pressure building behind a wall, which can cause damage to a wall’s structure, giving water an easy route to ingress into a wall.
In this case, both properties had access to a terraced outdoor area. Our surveyor believed that it may be possible to install an external drainage system into these areas. However, our surveyor also allowed for design of a separate pump chamber for each property in their initial plans to ensure that our client had a solution regardless of which one was confirmed to be more viable later in the project.
Another positive factor of the Type C waterproofing solution is that it is entirely reversible. Unlike other waterproofing solutions, a waterproof membrane is installed on top of the wall, and can have multiple decorative finishes applied to it once installed. This membrane can later be removed if work were required on the brickwork or the owner wished the change the decorative finish of the walls. Its reversible nature is ideal for use in period properties such as this, where additional care is required to protect the historic features of a property.
Results
Our surveyor designed a solution that not only stood in line with the British Standard for Basement Waterproofing, but also kept the historic and structural integrity of the property intact. Our surveyor’s work ensured that the property could be used for habitation upon completion of the work, while keeping the door open for the property to be restored to its original form if our client required it.
Our client was happy with our surveyor’s attentiveness both during the survey and at additional site visits during the renovations. They especially highlighted our surveyor’s ability to provide multiple contingencies within their portion of the work, ensuring that a plan was in place for the ideal solution regardless of what concerns may have been found during the renovations.
Do You Want Help with a Waterproofing Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Bradford are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 01274 891 675, or you can request a survey online.
