Proud member of the Federation of Damp
Below-ground waterproofing specialists · Ealing, W5, W13
Basement Waterproofing in Ealing
Ealing is known for its Victorian and Edwardian family houses, many with a cellar under the hall or front rooms. Advanced Damp designs and installs basement waterproofing for Ealing homes across W5, W13 and W7, from cellar conversions to new basements under extensions.
Newton Approved
Below-ground waterproofing across London and the South East.
CSSW and CSRT Trained Surveyors
Systems designed and specified to BS 8102:2022.
Long-Term Guarantee
Written guarantee on all new waterproofing installations.
CHAS Accredited
Fully insured, fixed-price quotations after survey.
What Is Under Ealing's Houses
Ealing sits on London Clay, with patches of terrace gravel on the higher ground around Ealing Broadway, Castlebar and Haven Green. The River Brent runs along the western edge of the borough, and the land falls gently towards it. On the gravel, rain drains quickly down to the clay and builds up there. On the clay itself, water drains so slowly that it stays against cellar walls for most of the winter.
That combination means cellars in the same street can behave very differently. A house on a gravel patch may have a cellar that only gets wet after prolonged rain, while a house a few doors down on bare clay may have walls that are damp all year. London Clay also shrinks and swells with the seasons, which opens small cracks in old cellar walls and floors.
Most of Ealing was built between the 1870s and the 1910s, when the railways turned it into the "Queen of the Suburbs". Large semi detached and terraced houses were often built with a cellar under part of the ground floor for coal and storage. The walls are solid brick or a mix of brick and rubble, and there is no damp proof membrane anywhere below ground.
Owners increasingly want to use that space. A cellar can become a utility room, gym or snug, and some houses have room to extend the cellar under the whole footprint. Any of these needs a waterproofing system designed for the room's use, because a storage cellar that tolerates a little damp is very different from a room where people will spend time.
Many parts of Ealing are conservation areas, where the outside of the house is protected. Converting an existing cellar is usually internal work. New basements and floor lowering need planning advice, structural design, building regulations approval and often a party wall agreement. We design to BS 8102 and give you a clear written specification.
Why Ealing Basements Need It
Ealing cellars take on water through the clay and gravel around them and up through original brick or earth floors. Common local risk factors include:
Left untreated, this sustained moisture pressure leads to efflorescence and salt staining, plaster breakdown, mould growth, timber decay in ground-floor joists and, over time, structural deterioration of the masonry itself.
Our Waterproofing Systems
Ealing's clay and gravel hold water against cellar walls for much of the year. We specify systems that collect and remove that water rather than simply coating over it. A survey decides which system is right for your property.
Type A · Cementitious Tanking
A rigid bonded coating applied directly to sound masonry. Suited to Ealing cellars with stable brickwork and lower moisture risk storage spaces, plant rooms and vaults where full habitable conversion is not required.
Basement tanking →Type C · Cavity Drain Membrane
Our most specified system for W5. A studded membrane channels groundwater safely to a sump rather than resisting it. the reliable choice where sustained hydrostatic pressure makes blocking water impractical.
Cavity drain membrane →For new basement excavations or projects requiring Camden planning submissions, see our work on structural waterproofing and cellar tanking.
How We Work
Groundwater & Assessment
A CSSW surveyor visits your Ealing property, identifies the water source, and reviews any previous failed treatments before recommending a system.
System Design & Fixed Price
We specify the right system for W5's groundwater conditions to BS 8102:2022 and provide a clear, fixed-price proposal agreed before any work begins.
Installation & Guarantee
Our own teams install the system, no subcontracting. On completion, we issue a written long-term guarantee and advise on long-term sump maintenance.
Why Choose Advanced Damp in Ealing?
What Our Customers Say
"I recommend this company for all aspects of damp coursing. All was explained professionally by the surveyor Sam. The team that came to carry out the work were courteous and left the property clean and tidy."
Ciara Mc Larnon, Google Reviews"From the initial contact through to the survey, estimate, doing the work, replastering and taking away the rubbish, they were very professional and extremely thorough throughout. I would recommend Advanced Damp Ltd without hesitation."
Nigel, TrustpilotPlanning work on a basement in Ealing?
The right system depends on how water reaches your walls and floor. A survey finds that first, so the design fits your property and the price is fixed before anything starts.
Book a Basement SurveyCall 0300 373 7251- 1. Book online or callPick a time that suits you.
- 2. Surveyor visitsMoisture readings, water source and the condition of the walls and floor.
- 3. Written specificationThe right system for your basement, with a fixed price and no obligation.
A Real London Type C Project
Basement Waterproofing Project in Fulham
See how our team successfully designed and installed a complete basement waterproofing system for a residential property in Fulham. This project highlights our risk-led approach, high-quality workmanship, and long-term waterproofing solutions for London homes.
Basement Waterproofing Across London
We design and install basement waterproofing across London and Surrey. Choose your area for local ground conditions, common problems and FAQs.
Accredited & Trusted
Recent Basement Work Near Ealing
Our recent basement waterproofing work includes new basement, Fulham SW6; basement bedroom, Notting Hill W11 and lower ground flat, Wandsworth SW18. Each case study sets out what the survey found and how the problem was fixed.
New basement, Fulham SW6
A Type C cavity drain membrane system installed to a newly built lower ground floor, designed to BS 8102:2022 for a Grade 3 dry, habitable space.
Read the case study →
Basement bedroom, Notting Hill W11
Rising damp on two walls and damp below the stairs, treated with DPC, tanking slurry and waterproof render.
Read the case study →
Lower ground flat, Wandsworth SW18
Bedroom mould from condensation and groundwater. Type C waterproofing, smart fans and a mould wash.
Read the case study →Ealing Basement Waterproofing FAQs
Can I convert my Ealing cellar into a gym or utility room?
Yes, in most cases. The cellar needs waterproofing designed for the new use, usually a cavity drain membrane with a drainage channel and sump, plus ventilation and lighting. If you need more headroom, the floor may have to be lowered, which is structural work.
Why does my Ealing cellar smell musty?
A musty smell usually means damp masonry, mould or decaying timber. In Ealing cellars it often comes from water seeping through the walls from the surrounding clay. Once the water is managed and the cellar is ventilated, the smell usually clears.
Is tanking or a cavity drain membrane better for an Ealing cellar?
For a cellar kept for storage with only light dampness, cementitious tanking can work. For a habitable room, or where water comes through the walls or floor, a cavity drain membrane is usually the better choice because it manages the water rather than trying to hold it back.
Do you also offer damp proofing for the rest of my Ealing house?
Yes. We carry out damp surveys and treatments above ground as well, including rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation. Our Ealing damp proofing page covers that work, and we can survey the whole house on the same visit.
How disruptive is basement waterproofing in a family home?
The noisiest part is removing old plaster and preparing the walls, which normally takes a few days. We seal off the cellar door, protect the hallway and take waste out daily. Most families stay in the house throughout.
Do you cover Hanwell, Acton and Chiswick?
Yes. We cover Ealing, West Ealing, Hanwell, Acton, Northfields and the surrounding W5, W13, W7 and W3 streets. We also have a dedicated Chiswick basement page.
Related Services
Book an Ealing Basement Waterproofing Survey
If your Ealing property has a cellar or basement showing damp, salts or water, or you are planning a conversion, the first step is a survey by a CSSW and CSRT trained specialist who knows how Ealing's houses were built.
We will assess your specific building, identify the source and type of water ingress, and specify the right system in writing with a fixed price.