Rising Damp at the Entrance of a Basement Flat in SE20
A small wall inside the front door of a basement flat on Seymour Terrace had blistered and stained. Our survey found high moisture readings and rising damp confined to that one area.
Project at a Glance
The Brief
The owner noticed a blistered patch of wall with yellow staining just inside the front door of the basement flat.
The Survey
Moisture readings confirmed high moisture in the small area of wall to the left as you enter the flat, on one side only. The front doors were checked and showed no defects, which ruled them out as the source. The surveyor diagnosed rising damp in the wall.
The Solution
Because the problem was confined to one small wall, the treatment was kept to that area.
- Hack off plaster back to brick up to 1.5 metres high in the area marked on the sketch.
- Apply SBR and tanking slurry to the masonry.
- Inject a DPC cream.
- Apply a waterproof render and finish with multi finish plaster.
The Work
Materials on the job sheet were SBR, tanking slurry, DPC cream, salt neutraliser, sand and cement, and multi finish plaster.
The Result
The entrance wall now has a new DPC behind a tanked, waterproof rendered and plastered finish, and the rest of the flat was left undisturbed. Read more about basement tanking and our work across South London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the wall blistering near my front door?
Blistering and yellow staining are typical of moisture and salts coming through plaster. A survey with moisture readings shows whether it is rising damp, a leak or condensation.
Can damp in a basement flat be treated in one area only?
Yes, when readings show the damp is confined to one wall. Treating only the affected area keeps disruption and cost down.
What does SBR do in tanking?
SBR is a bonding agent that helps the tanking slurry and render adhere to the masonry, so the waterproof layers stay bonded to the wall.
Damp in a basement flat?
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 SE20.
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.
