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Damp Proofing

Tanking for storage purposes vs living purposes

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.20 PM

The building is located in Bath spa, the building was built in 1850. The basement currently used storage for a shop on the ground level. The current owner has decided that he wants to turn the basement into flats and wants the rest of the leaseholders to contribute to the tanking of the basement claiming that the damp in the basement would cause damage to the structure of the building. Fair enough if the damp is causing damage to the structure, all the freeholders need to contribute to fix the issue. The problem is; I think tanking for storage purposes vs tanking for residential purposes cost more. The question is ...in terms of prices what is the average difference in tanking for storage vs living? Does damp causes damage to the structure of the building? We got a surveyor and he recommended to contact a damp proof specialist to diagnose... The surveyor, just did a visual inspection and wrote down on the report to contact a damp proof specialist for investigation. Many thanks in advance to any one of you who takes the time to comment or advice. Kind regards

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3 Answers

Peremo

Rating: 5 out of 5

Belfast

Firstly ,Tanking is applied to a wall to prevent water/damp entering the fabric of a property, from a lateral direction (sideways direction). It will help keep water/damp out of specific rooms or areas, but doesn't address, or cure, the damp issues. All you have done is literally paper over an issue. The damp is still behind the Tanking no matter which system is installed Secondly. Cementintatious Slurry application system, is easily, the cheapest, while membrane systems are the preferred/recommended installation type, but are far more expensive. Both systems provide a waterproof barrier. In conclusion Tanking will only benefit the CONTENTS OF THE ROOM and not the building,as the damp in itself, still remains, the only beneficiariy form the Tanking application in this instance, is the contractor, and the basement owner, because, he has had financial help from other occupants to make good,an area for himself, while the damp is still where it was before any works began,

Answered28 February 2021

Anonymous user

Hi how’s you Ok if the room is used for storage it would need well vented really just to stop the room smelling damp or the stuff in the room getting damp , this also helps the structure off the building , if the building is to be used for living and needs to be heated this is a much bigger job with much bigger costs . If the structure off the room is not sound no type of damp proofing will cure that the structure would need to be made secure and then the room vented well to stop it from happening again , I would suggest sending a structural engineer to look at the building they would be able to advise on the state off it and explain what needs to be done to fix it and how to stop it happening again , if there is no problem with the structure they will issue a cert to say that the structure off the building is sound or safe

Answered26 March 2021

M.J. Harwood

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Leeds

In our opinion given that the building not only dates back to 1850 and as a basement is below ground level an element of damp is to be expected and should not be causing significant damage to the structure of the building. Given that we have not made inspection in person we can only give our standard recommendation for a building of that age/type. We would most likely be recommending installation of a membrane system with perimeter drains linked to either a sump pump or to existing drainage point depending on existing ground level. We would then be able to offer a full guarantee for the work carried out and confident on successful results give that the existing building is left un disturbed and a separate stand alone system is installed. In terms of cost for habitable vs storage , the cost of the membrane system would be the same but the cost differences would be found in the fit out of the rooms, mainly for the following: Internal framing Wall/floor insulation Plaster boarding/plastering Electrical/plumbing works Floor coverings and finishing

Answered29 March 2021