Treating Damp in a Basement Bedroom in Notting Hill, W11
Damp in the back basement room of a property on Ledbury Road was traced to rising damp on two walls, with high damp readings in the storage space below the stairs.
Project at a Glance
The Brief
The owner was concerned about damp in the back basement room, which is used as a bedroom, and in the storage area below the stairs.
The Survey
Our survey found slight rising damp on the left side of the window wall in the back basement room, and damp around the light switch near the back door. The external inspection showed no apparent signs of water penetration.
High damp readings were also found in the storage area below the stairs, even though the stairs were relatively new.
The Solution
The report recommended a targeted treatment rather than work to the whole basement.
- Window wall and back door wall: salt neutraliser, DPC injection and two coats of tanking slurry, taken onto the floor, then waterproof render floor to ceiling and a skim finish.
- Storage area under the stairs: tanking to the walls and ceiling, followed by a coat of waterproof render with a flat render finish.
The Work
The contractor specification covered around 3 square metres on the window wall, around 2 square metres at the door and around 8 square metres in the storage area.
The Result
The damp walls in the back basement room and the under stair storage area now have a DPC and a tanked, waterproof rendered finish. See our basement tanking service and more basement work in Notting Hill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every damp basement need a cavity drain membrane?
No. Where damp is limited to specific walls, a targeted tanking and render system can be the right answer. Habitable basements with water pressure from the ground usually need a waterproofing system designed to BS 8102:2022.
What is tanking slurry?
A cement based waterproof coating applied to masonry in coats. It holds back damp and is usually finished with a waterproof render and plaster.
Why treat a storage area under the stairs?
High damp readings in a small enclosed space can affect stored items and spread to nearby walls. Tanking and rendering the area keeps it dry and protects the rest of the room.
Damp in your basement?
Our CSSW and CSRT trained surveyors find the real cause before recommending any work. Non-invasive survey with a clear written report. No obligation.
Project completed in Notting Hill, W11.
Sam Fitzgerald is the founder of Advanced Damp and a working damp and structural waterproofing surveyor diagnosing and treating moisture problems in residential and commercial properties across London and the South East. He is FODCS certified (a Federation of Damp Certified Surveyor) and a member of the Federation of Damp. His hands-on work covers rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation, basement waterproofing to BS 8102, and thermal imaging surveys, and he has personally completed over 400 damp surveys across properties of every type and age. Everything he writes draws directly from jobs he has carried out. He does not write about treatments, products or causes he has not dealt with first-hand in the field.
