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You could tank it with something like Vandex which you can get from bigger builders merchants. Basically you just hack off back to the brickwork, remove any dust and trowel it on. It make any damp wick higher up the wall, but it would be extremely unlikely to rise over 2m, so you should be OK as...

Apparantly the latest revision of Part F of the Building Regs offers specific guidance on ventilating basements. I will check it out at work next week.

The new 3:1 sand/cement render will look and behave differently from the existing plaster. Although it costs a bit more, but I'd always suggest replastering the full height of the walls.

Patrick is right about the condensation in basements. I forgot to mention it. You'll need to create some backgroung heat down there (e.g. central heating) and/or some air flow - probably by mechanical means - e.g. humity-controlled fans. You say the concrete floor is cold, so you will...

Why?

The link below gives details of the most common methods used to waterproof existing basements: http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/basement_waterproofing.php Of the two methods, I personally favour the drainage membrane option as it is more forgiving of poor preparation etc... Most...

It really depends how deep your footings go down. If you need to dig below them to get adequate headroom you need to think about underpinning which will hugely increase the price of the project. If you are putting electrics down there you probably need to think about some kind of...

If you get a company in that is a member of the Property Care Association they should be decent. They have to pass exams to show that they can distinguish between different types of dampness etc... Despite the insane rantings of some people on these boards most people want to live in a dry...

Konrad, It looks like you used fresh mortar in your experments. This would not be a fair test as the free lime will block the pores through which damp can rise. In fact, it is well known that it is difficult to get rising damp to occur through fresh mortar. If you get a big chunk of Victorian...

Yes, I'm well aware of the minority that subscribe to that view. The reason I pointed out the guide to rising damp is because it has a very useful section on distinguishing between the main types of dampness that affect buildings. The "does rising damp exist" argument is probably one of the...

With any damp problem, the most important thing is to work out the cause before deciding on a cure. Good sources of information are: Websites of two independant damp consultants (Patrick Doyle and Graham Coleman): http://www.pdoyle.net/ http://www.buildingpreservation.com/ Free rising...

You could consider tanking the walls up to a height of 30cm above the last signs of water ingress, remembering to extend the tanking onto the floor (at least 30cm, but preferably the whole floor). The obvious choice would be a cementitious slurry such as Vandex, although this will not provide a...

They are usually only worth it if they are backed by the Property Guarantee Administration (PGA) or the Guarantee Protection Trust (GPT). Otherwise they become worthless if the damp-proofing company goes bust.

Preprufe is a nightmare, especially on refurb projects. If you are doing a basement refurb your choice is really between cementitious coatings (Sika, Vandex etc...) or cavity drainage membranes. Have a look at http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/basement_waterproofing.php

Most of the damp rises through the mortar, so it does not matter how dense the bricks are.

It depends if the Preprufe is tied into the rest of the damp-proofing. Sometimes it is best to tank internally with something like Sika or Vandex Super if you are not sure of the quality of the waterproofing design or installation.

This Safeguard website has useful information about dealing with condensation http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/condensation.php

I feel a bit like I've crashed into this forum like a bull in a china shop. However, I would really be interested in hearing a balanced debate on rising damp. I don't know what it is about the subject, but it seems to attract some extreme and passionate viewpoints. As someone that has been...

Softus, Some might even say that Mr Fisher’s articles were “riddled with opinion and subjective references.” Does this quote from Mr Fisher's website strike you as something you would expect from a balanced, rational person? “Building protection is called here probably damaging with...

Has anyone had a look at Graham Coleman's website, http://www.buildingpreservation.com/Contents.htm. I have heard many wierd and wonderful theories about rising damp and its treatment over the years and Graham's opinion is one of the few that I respect. I have seen what could only be...