Basement or cellar tanking was the accepted method in the Uk for waterproofing a basement or cellar until recent times. When done properly ( which incidentally was rarely) all paintwork was removed from each brick and all mortar joints raked out before a waterproofing slurry was trowelled onto the wall and finished with a plaster coat before being painted.

As well as taking a lot of man hours and precise preparation this system of waterproofing relies on the bond being strong enough to hold back the water pressure and can be successful in traditionally dry cellars.

However, in any area with a high water table or high water pressure and with any house that is a semi or a terrace the only real answer is to use a cavity membrane and pump system . This is the preferred system for Building Standards BS8102 and comes with an insurance backed guarantee .

The system works on a water management basis by allowing water to enter the basement behind an impervious membrane wher it then runs into special channels linked to a pump. The pump then empties the water away into an outside drain thereby keeping the basement permanently dry.

The other advantage of this sytem is you are not forcing water to find the path of least resistance like a tanking system and so you avoid the danger of flooding adjoining property’s with no tanking.

Multiguard are approved basement and cellar renovation specialists and we would be delighted to discuss your individual requirements over the telephone or by email.