Membrane on walls and floors
Converting a damp cellar or basement can be an inexpensive way of increasing living space and can substantially increase the value of the property.
Tanking
Basement conversions are becoming increasingly popular as property becomes more expensive and we endeavour to utilise former storage space to provide valuable living accommodation.
Cellars and basements below ground level are often subjected to both lateral damp penetration and hydrostatic pressure caused by gravity combined with the weight and volume of the water above making the areas unusable.
Water pressure increases with the depth in saturated ground. Indeed, for every 300mm of vertical depth below the water table the pressure typically increases by 30g per square cm, which at 3 metres depth exerts approximately 3 tonnes per square metre.
Insite are able to offer a range of waterproofing and tanking solutions to transform a damp basement into a dry habitable space.
Cementitious tanking systems are usually used in situations where there is no “free flowing water” or risk for flooding. They can also be used on awkward or convoluted surfaces. The coating can then be plastered to provide a smooth surface ready for subsequent redecoration.
Cavity drain membranes utilise high density polypropylene incorporating a “studded” profile to line the walls and floors to provide a dry internal surface. The wall can then be dry lined or plastered and the floors screeded or overlaid in chipboard.
Sealed systems are used in conjunction with “sump pumps” where the presence of “free water” is known or suspected.
Tanking systems can also be employed in “above ground” structures where conventional damp proofing methods are considered inappropriate.
