How to waterproof new basement?

[AndyDavis]

Is there a way to make a new basement permanently leak proof and habitable? I've seen various methods, based around a concrete box basement, ranging from putting a rubber membrane around the outside to mixing additives in the concrete to fancy water extraction systems buried in the ground. But some people have swimming pools in their basement, how do they manage to stay dry. Or is it that they just
put up with on going maintenance?

 

[JerryM]

the only way i know is to tank it (there may be other ways) which can also be used in swimming pools. swimming pools are in fact less of a challenge as they have +ve pressure ie water is pushing the membrane against the structure.

in basements the water is pushing the other way ie the membrane off the brickwork.

it involves cleaning up the brickwork then applying 2 coats of special cement based render with a brush. it can then be left as is or finished with plaster.

i've not actually tanked a cellar. the nearest i've got is under the floorboards on the ground floor. on this particular house the water table was very high and whenever it rained i gained a boating pond. i started by putting down a DPM and concrete over the floor believing that the water was rising through the soil. alas the lake was soon back. i tried pointing any mortar on the outside brickwork that i thought could be the cause but without success. in the end i tanked around the walls (depth of 700mm below ground). this did not sort it. i knew that i was supposed to put a fillet between the floor and the wall and then tank that so i did. the pond is no more.

what i am getting at is sorting damp in a basement is not easy or straightforward. make sure you get a contractor backed by a reputable company and preferably by word of mouth recommendation (and then get it checked on this site which i feel is very worthy)

 

[Support Site Cardiff]

i work for a specialist waterproofing supplier and we have branches all over britain. there is a product called Thoroseal or another called Vandex which are cement based slurrys and have been used on a number of basements. my name is Richard and ****** i can give you our nearest branches number.