Basement tanking essentially entails making sure no water or moisture seeps into your home. There are several ways to keep water and moisture at bay; you can do it from outside or from inside your house. The outside solution entails digging up the soil around the walls of your basement to allow access to working space around the outer walls. This is not only expensive but also an experience many home owners are not prepared to dabble in. Doing it from inside the house is the most favoured option and the various ways of doing this are discussed below.

Firstly is the use of a waterproof render (bituminous membrane) which is fitted to the inside of the wall. Care should be taken to ensure it is well fitted otherwise it will be a futile attempt at damp proofing. This method relies on perfectly sealing the wall to ensure no water can penetrate through. Bituminous membranes are made of asphalt which is commonly used for roofing applications. Though asphalt is resistant to moisture, its insulation barrier can be compromised by extreme water pressure. Recent market additions include rubberized asphalt which offers better protection albeit more difficult to install. You can seek guidance on how to go about it from someone conversant with BS 8102:2009. This regulation gives guidelines on how structures should be protected from ground water.

Secondly you can choose to us elastomeric waterproofing membrane. This is a new waterproofing membrane which is being considered to be the most durable. Derived from urethane, this type of waterproof material needs to be applied only once. Its application is easy as it does not require reinforcing material to make sure it bonds effectively.

Thirdly is by using a liquid foundation waterproofing membrane which is also one of the most affordable membrane solutions. It is easy to apply and suited for difficult to reach places like curved nooks or undersurfaces in the basement.

The fourth way of dealing with damp basements is by using a plastic membrane. This allows any moisture or water to seep through, and trickle down the wall into a channel at the junction of the wall and the floor. The good thing about this system is that it allows water to seep through the walls. The water is not allowed to penetrate the membrane but is channelled safely outside. Whichever option one eventually goes for, cost is definitely a factor. It should not blur the fact that a stable dry basement is a plus in future property valuations.