DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi everyone

Just hoping you might be able to share some of your experience and expertise with someone who doesn't know much about basements and damp.

I'm in the process of buying a house with a basement and have had a Homebuyer's Survey done which has identified that the basement is damp.

I've had a further specialist investigation done which has highlighted that the "basement area is extensively affected by rising and penetrating dampness as a result of being situated below external ground level with no adequate damp proof course or tanking protection. The company that's done the inspection has given me an estimate for the remedial work that it believes to be necessary to provide a habitable area. They propose:-

Hacking up the existing damp solid internal floors and relaying in solid concrete incorporating a damp proof membrane. Hacking off existing areas of internal plasterwork. Applying cementitious tanking to wall areas beneath external ground level. Installing horizontal pressure-injected fluid damp proof course. Applying approved moisture resistant dry lining board incorporating an insulating medium and vapour barrie. Plaster skim finish on completion.

The estimate seems expensive to me and is only an estimate rather than a quote.

If I wanted to use the basement only as a utility and storage area, what do you think would be the minimum damp proofing treatment that I could have done to sort the damp out so that it doesn't cause any problems to the rest of the property, but that I could add to as well if I wanted to make the area habitable as a living space in the future?

Would appreciate any suggestions or ideas.

Many thanks.

Sue

Moysky,
It's a basement and they are generally damp, this should not cause any problems with the house above.
Have a look here to see your options https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/tanking.htm
end

Hi Stoneyboy

Very helpful, thanks, have looked at the link, really informative.

Cheers.

Sue