Focus On: Waterproofing a Basement

Waterproofing a basement is a critical point in the initial stages of house design. John Spearman, director at Surrey Basements, gives the lowdown on why good design and specialist installation are key to ensuring a properly waterproofed basement.

What types of waterproofing are there for basements?

When you’re creating a habitable basement, getting it properly waterproofed is an absolute necessity to avoid issues with ingress and damp. Moisture penetrating the walls or floors of your basement could cause damage and create an unhealthy environment, so finding the right solution is vital.

For retrofits – adding a basement beneath an existing home – there are two main options to choose from. Cavity drain membrane systems involve using an eggcrate-style polyethylene membrane internally, along with a sump pump (which removes water that has accumulated via the drainage channels), to create a fully sealed zone. The alternative is a cementitious-type installation, such as the application of a waterproof render or slurry.

If you’re building a new house from scratch, most warranty providers require the use of two waterproofing systems.

Typically, you would use a cavity drain membrane internally, along with another solution either externally or integrally. On the exterior face, you could go for a geotextile membrane with a perforated land drain incorporated.

A variety of other options exist. We’ve fitted Volclay systems, for example, which are basically mats of absorbent material that are installed under your basement’s floor slab and up the external wall surfaces.

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