Basement Tanking

Basement tanking is a form of waterproofing used to prevent damp problems in underground spaces. Our specialists will show you in detail exactly what basement tanking systems are available, how to apply them, and how it can work alongside other waterproof systems to ensure your basement remains safe and dry from leaks and flooding.

If you have a damp basement and think that tanking might be the waterproofing solution you require, get in touch with Rentokil Property Care today by clicking the contact us button below.

Basement tanking is the application of a cementitious waterproof coating, commonly known as tanking slurry, to the walls and floor. You will often find that this slurry is supported by the installation of waterproof membranes to ensure complete protection and make sure your basement walls remain dry.

Tanking is primarily used to tackle water ingress, and basement tanking is particularly good at resisting hydrostatic pressure i.e. water pressure on underground walls from the surrounding earth. This has made tanking an extremely popular method of treating and waterproofing damp walls underground.

The application of bitumen slurry and damp proofing membrane will typically be used on the brickwork during the construction phase of the building as an external waterproofing solution, however, during the refurbishment of cellars or when starting a basement conversion project, it is commonly used to coat internal basement and cellar walls to ensure they are waterproofed.

Cementitious tanking is a specially formulated mixture of cement, aggregates and chemical modifiers. These ingredients work together to stop any water ingress from earth retaining walls.

When the slurry dries, it forms a smooth waterproof barrier that will prevent water ingress and the various damp problems that can arise as a result such as wet rot or dry rot. A second coat of pre-mixed solution is usually applied to ensure painted surfaces are watertight.

Cementitious tanking slurry remains permeable to water vapour despite blocking water ingress, and this is what allows any trapped moisture on your walls, like condensation, to escape - essentially making your basement or cellar breathable. This is what makes a tanking system both waterproof and damp proof.

A basement tanking solution fitted by Rentokil Property Care will fulfil the criteria set out by the British Standards Institute BS 1881, part 122. These BSI waterproofing standards outline best practice in our industry and this attention to quality is what you can expect from our professional team.

You can also tank basement walls using bitumen cement based sheets called damp proof membranes. These waterproof coatings prevent penetrating damp caused by capillary movement of water moving through earth retaining walls.

The tanking coatings can be plastered to provide a smooth surface to decorate, plaster over, or apply plasterboard on top of.

You can read more about cavity membrane solutions on our dedicated page.

Put simply, ‘waterproofing’ is the umbrella term for all systems and methods of keeping out water, moisture and dampness from buildings. Broadly, these are categorised as Type A or ‘barrier protection systems’ where slurry or damp proof membranes are applied to the walls. Type B or ‘integrated systems’ where the damp proof course or protection is built into the structure itself. Or Type C, which involves the installation of a ‘cavity drainage system’.

Tanking, on the other hand, always refers to Type A and the specific practice of applying cementitious slurry and/or waterproof tanking membranes to the inside or outside of the building to prevent water ingress.

Unfortunately, basement tanking alone is often not robust enough to stop water ingress, damp, and mould permeating your underground space.

This is due to certain conditions such as:

• Subsidence causing cracks and fissures in the wall
• Nearby trains or heavy vehicles on busy roads created repeated and mounting vibrations
• A build-up of hydrostatic pressure behind the earth-retaining wall
• The building is in an area susceptible to flooding

Typically to rectify these issues a more comprehensive form of waterproofing consisting of a combination of damp proof membrane with a drainage and pumping system may be necessary.

In such cases, we would recommend that you consult with a professional and qualified tanking specialist to conduct a survey on the property and determine the correct tanking or waterproofing system required to safely ensure the room remains dry and safe.

The cost of tanking your underground space will be determined by:

• How large the space is
• The extent of damage to underground walls
• The method of waterproofing or tanking required

Ultimately, it is impossible to give an accurate estimate of costs until a thorough site survey has taken place.

Whilst there will be an initial survey fee, this pales in comparison to the potential value a newly dry and habitable basement could add to the price of your house, or costs encountered by installing an inefficient basement tanking solution that causes your underground space and all of its new contents to become saturated with damp, mould and rot fungus.

To find out what waterproofing solution is required to properly protect your home and make it safe for your planned project or basement conversion then contacting our survey team will provide all the help, guidance and answers you need.

At Rentokil Property Care our damp proofing specialists have the qualifications, training, and experience to properly install any tanking or waterproof membrane solution in your basement.

You can contact our specialist basement and cellar team at Rentokil Property Care by clicking the button below to fill in a quick contact form and we will get back to you.