Cellar Conversions London

There’s so much more to basement conversions in London than you realise. Certain parts of London come with area-specific problems such as soil composition which causes damper or waterlogging than in other areas. Planning permission requirements can change between districts. You may need Party Wall Agreements putting in place depending on how your property is structured amidst neighbouring properties.

That’s before you look at the practical logistics of basement excavation or a basement construction. You want to know your entire property is safe when parts of the supporting foundations need altering. And one of the biggest problems with converting existing cellars with damp problems is that the root of the damp problem is often not dealt with, so it’s only a matter of time before the unsightly and destructive damp issues return.

We’re not trying to worry you of course. But let’s be honest – there’s a difference between popping some DIY damp coursing over a few soggy corners and giving it a lick of paint, to having a structural engineer with decades of experience with a reputable basement conversion company, assess your buildings’ basement and give you a full report. A report that shows you how if done properly, your cellar conversion would come with a ten-year guarantee.

There are many ways to waterproof your basement (see our basement waterproofing page) as basement structures vary so much. The type of structure, depth of the structure, location and surrounding soil composition all impact how moisture or water ingress can affect a basement or cellar.

Many basement companies will use one of these three commonly used methods used in basement waterproofing. They each have their own merits depending on the factors affecting the property, so the structural engineer or project manager will need to thoroughly assess the best fit when they map out the design and build of your basement conversion.

Type A Waterproofing – Basement Tanking London. This waterproofing method incorporates an externally or internally applied barrier system which withholds groundwater from entering the building under pressure. Materials such as sheet membranes, bitumen-based coatings, multi-coat renders or crystalline slurries are used with this method but the structural elements of the building need to be strong enough to withstand the groundwater pressure the building is exposed to.

Type B Waterproofing is where the actual structure has the waterproofing aspects built into it. This method uses waterproofing additives within the concrete when forming the floors and walls of the structure so is often used in newbuild below ground structures. This will need additional waterproofing methods to support weaker areas such as structure joints where moisture could penetrate the building.

Type C Waterproofing uses Cavity Drain Membrane (CDM) installed externally or internally to the walls and floors of the basement structure. This method uses dimpled membranes which don’t stop the incoming water or moisture but instead manage it and divert it into either a pumping chamber or external land drain. This system is suitable for all structure types and because it is a relatively low risk where defects are concerned and are easy to install, it is rapidly becoming the waterproofing system of choice with existing cellars and basements that are subject to groundwater ingress.