Basements are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, but it is important that they are properly waterproofed. This seminar looks at the different waterproofing options available and assists the specifier in choosing the correct system for a given construction type and location.

With Tibby Singh and YDC Basements, Safeguard waterproofed a basement at an end of terrace home in Leeds using Drybase Tanking System.

The Star in Soho is a popular and long established eatery and bar with a vaulted basement meeting room. During the day, it is a bustling traditional café, with a relaxed pre-war aesthetic. Once the evening begins, however, the Star Café becomes The London Gin Club, a stylish table-service gin bar. Both of the Star’s different guises are very well…

The Vandex BB75 was applied by trowel the next day and allowed to cure. On the third day, a 3:1 sand:cement finishing coat was applied. Vandex BB75 waterproofing slurry was also applied to the floor (following surface preparation). A screed was then poured on top.

The Greyfriars Extra Care Housing Scheme is a partnership between Housing 21, North Yorkshire Council, Richmondshire District Council, and main contractors Frank Haslam Milan (FHM). The development overlooks the medieval town of Richmond, North Yorkshire and consists of 39 two-bedroom apartments for older people with a range of care and support needs.

The construction of such a large building on a site containing London clay requires very deep foundations. Due to the high land prices in the central London area it was decided to make use of this space by incorporating a two-storey basement area into the design. The basement was formed using secant piling that was faced with reinforced shotcrete.

The basement, a retail space in Nottingham’s central Listergate shopping area, had suffered from problems with water ingress. As part of a £2.4 million refurbishment of the building, property consultants, King Sturge, and architects, Chapman Taylor, approached Safeguard to discuss the design of a suitable waterproofing system to upgrade the basement to a level of dryness suitable for a retail…

Introducing the Drybase Tanking Range. These cementitious waterproofing materials enables above-ground and basement waterproofing jobs.

A new brochure is available for the Vandex Tanking System, highlighting how the system can be used for various applications including basement waterproofing, swimming pools, damp walls, ponds, tunnels and drinking water structures. The Vandex Tanking System comprises of three key products: Vandex Mineralit surface hardenerVandex Unimortar 1 waterproof mortarVandex BB75 tanking slurry The brochure shows how these can be…

A new brochure is now available for the Vandex Flextape system. Vandex Flextape is used for the sealing and waterproofing of cracks, construction joints, and expansion joints in concrete structures – above and below ground. The thermoplastic elastomer sealing tape is highly weather-resistant and UV-proof, creating a long-lasting seal for cracks, expansion joints and construction joints. A key area of…

December 2009 saw the introduction of the first update to BS 8102 “Code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground” since 1990. Given that this is the first update to the standard for almost twenty years, it is not surprising that the revised version of the standard contains a number of important changes.

Oldroyd’s new Foundations and Basements brochure is now available for download. The new brochure focuses on the use of externally-applied cavity drainage membranes as part of a dual-layer basement waterproofing system. The use of Oldroyd membranes beneath floor slabs to provide moisture protection is also covered. The following products are featured in the brochure: Oldroyd Xv BlackOldroyd XsOldroyd Gtx Range…

Two new case studies featuring basement conversions have been added to our website. Both case studies feature the use of the Oldroyd Xv cavity drainage membrane system to provide waterproofing: Basement conversion at seaside hotel – This case study illustrates the benefits of basement conversions in commercial premises. Relocation of the hotel bar to the basement allowed a large increase…

The BRE guidance document, BR211 describes two levels of radon protection: basic radon protection and full radon protection. 

In radon-risk areas basements can be found to contain particularly high concentrations of radon.  This is because radon gas is heavier than air and will therefore have a tendency to accumulate at the lowest level of a building.

In most cases piled retaining walls do not provide adequate resistance to water in their own right so a waterproofing system will need to be applied on top.

The waterproofing of concrete-piled foundations presents a problem for many waterproofing systems – particularly those based on sheet membranes. The majority of these systems cannot be used over pile heads and pile caps because they do not have the bearing capacity to support the applied load.

Construction joints are a particular weak points in basement structures through which water can penetrate. Therefore, joints between components, including day work joints, should be durable and watertight and include appropriate waterstops (Vandex Expaseal) or hydrophilic strips. Kickers, usually cast as part of the slab, should be used to form the joint between floors and walls (NHBC Chapter 5.4).

Basements are susceptible to the ingress of moisture and contaminants from the ground. For this reason, a waterproofing system will usually be required. Guidance on the requirements for basement waterproofing systems is given in BS 8102:2022 “Code of practice for protection of below-ground structures against water from the ground”.

Converting a damp cellar or basement can be a surprisingly inexpensive way of increasing living space and can substantially increase the value of a property. Waterproofed cellars and basements can be converted into kitchens, bathrooms, wine cellars, living rooms, studies, or even recording studios. You are limited only by your imagination. In commercial premises, common uses for basements include, extra…

When constructing a new basement, it is possible to apply the waterproofing system to the internal (negative) or external (positive) side of the basement wall. In many cases, combined systems are specified to provide enhanced protection and these are encouraged in the latest NHBC guidance (NHBC Chapter 5.4). Examples of new-build basement waterproofing options can be found on our CAD…

The construction of basements underneath existing houses has been growing in popularity since the late 1990s driven by increasing property prices and demand for increased living space in city centres. The trend was originally limited to the most desirable parts of London, however, rising property prices mean that “dig out” basements can now be cost effective in most areas of…

Lift pits normally extend below ground / slab level and, therefore, like basements are susceptible to water ingress under hydrostatic pressure. In new-build situations, lift pits are usually waterproofed externally using the same methods employed to waterproof newbuild basements.

To provide a dry environment, any structure built below ground level will require waterproofing. Choosing the most appropriate waterproofing system will depend on a number of factors including: Newbuild or refurbishmentDepth below ground levelConstruction type / materialSoil typeProposed end useSoil contaminants / ground gasses

The basic symptoms of damp, e.g. peeling paint / wallpaper, are largely the same regardless of the cause of dampness.