Case Study · Damp Proofing & Waterproofing
Damp Proofing at the London School of Economics
Damp was threatening the fabric of one of London’s most recognisable historic campuses. Here is how we treated it across multiple LSE buildings while preserving their character and keeping a live, occupied campus running.
Written by Sam Fitzgerald, Founder & Surveyor
London School of Economics
Education / historic estate
Central London
Multiple campus buildings
Damp proofing & waterproofing
21 days on site
The Brief
The London School of Economics is one of the world’s best-known universities, set in historic buildings across a central London campus, many of them several decades old. Over time, damp had taken hold in a number of those buildings, threatening both their appearance and their structural fabric, and with it the environment for students, staff and faculty.
LSE needed the damp resolved properly, but on the terms a heritage estate and a busy, occupied campus demand.
The Challenge
Our Approach
We planned the project building by building rather than applying a single blanket treatment:
On Site
Over 21 days, the team worked through the affected buildings, carefully restoring facades and interiors so the campus kept its character while becoming structurally sound and free of moisture. Works were phased to fit around campus life and carried out with the safety of students and staff as the priority throughout.
The Outcome
“We are extremely pleased with the exceptional work carried out by Advanced Damp Ltd. Their dedication to preserving our historic buildings while resolving our damp issues was commendable. The campus now stands as a testament to their expertise and professionalism.”
London School of Economics
Why It Matters
Historic and institutional buildings cannot be treated like any other. The right damp solution has to respect the fabric and appearance of the building, be planned building by building, and be delivered around the people using the space. Whether it is a school, a listed property or a commercial estate, that combination of correct diagnosis, heritage-sensitive treatment and careful phasing is what protects both the building and the people in it. It is the approach we bring to all of our damp proofing and commercial waterproofing work.
Responsible for a School, Historic or Commercial Building?
We handle damp proofing and waterproofing for institutional and commercial estates. This kind of project suits you if you have:
Start with a survey and we will assess each building and set out the right approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can damp proofing be carried out on listed or historic buildings?
Yes, using heritage-sensitive materials and methods chosen to protect the fabric and appearance of the building. Each building is surveyed and treated individually rather than with a single blanket approach.
Can you work on an occupied site like a school or office?
Yes. We phase the works around the occupants, schedule to keep disruption to a minimum, and put the safety of everyone on site first, as we did across the live LSE campus.
Do you handle damp across multiple buildings or a whole estate?
Yes. We survey each building, identify its specific issues, and coordinate a single programme of works across the estate so it is managed as one project.
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Damp in a school or commercial building?
Talk to our team about damp proofing and waterproofing for institutional and heritage buildings, planned around your site and your people.
Sam Fitzgerald is the founder of Advanced Damp and a working damp and structural waterproofing surveyor with over 12 years of experience 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.
