Why Waterproof Your Basement Conversion?
Why Waterproof Your Basement Conversion?
One of the most important aspects of basement excavation is waterproofing. If waterproofing isn’t done correctly, the basement conversion will get damp problems, which can be difficult and expensive to correct at a later date.
The deeper you dig, the more water you’ll find, meaning waterproofing is an imperative part of basement excavation. This is particularly true on a double (or even triple) basement design. The main issue caused by improper waterproofing is, of course, leakage. There are several places that water can seep into home basements including drains, cracks and joints and over the top of foundations.
Aside from the obvious problem of damp and leaks, water in the ground can exert a huge amount of force onto the structure of a basement. This is known as hydrostatic pressure and needs to be kept to a minimum in order to avoid structural damage to buildings.
Types Of Basement Waterproofing
There are two main kinds of waterproofing involved in basement conversion design. The traditional chemical method is called ‘basement tanking’ and uses cement based renders to waterproof basement excavations, however this method is becoming less popular as water table levels rise and lead to greater hydrostatic pressure on a lot of properties.
A more reliable and common technique is the use of a textured membrane made from Polyethylene sheeting called a Cavity Drain Membrane. This covers the new subterranean walls, much like lining your basement in giant bubble wrap. As well as being impervious to water, a Cavity Drain Membrane is also vapour proof and provides extra insulation to properties.
Robin Knowles is an architect with over 20 years’ basement conversion experience. Knowles is considered one of the leading authorities in basement construction, designing and building hundreds of London basements every year.
To find out more about Knowles London basement company, visit www.knowles.uk.com.