Heavy rainfall can be unpredictable, so when you’re looking for basement contractors in London to work on your new project, discussing how to make sure your basement will be flood-proof is a vital part of planning. Experienced builders will have numerous techniques to draw upon to ensure your basement stays safe and dry no matter what.
Several practical steps can be implemented to ensure your basement avoids water damage. Before work begins on your basement expansion, it should be properly inspected to identify dangers and vulnerabilities that can be rectified as soon as possible to make.
Assess flood threats
A good starting point is to get an idea of flood risk for the area. Your basement contractors in London can check with the government service Flood line to see the potential risk to your home if you have not done so already. Making sure the rest of the property is safe from leaks and water damage is also a priority. If the home already has damp concerns, the basement development may be hindered.
Drainage and plumbing are two areas that need to be looked at as part of a flood proofing plan. The guttering of the property may be taking water away from the roof, but where is it going? If it lands in the ground near the basement extension, then this makes it a liability. Drainage systems need to take water away from the building in an effective manner. Gutters and piping should also be inspected for blockages to ensure that they are performing as intended. Plumbing should also be brought up to date, possibly with the addition of valves to prevent any water from flowing back into your pipes.
Windows can be sealed with waterproof materials, and a waterproof coating can be added to exterior walls. This may be part of exterior or barrier protection waterproofing, which may involve tanking slurry. A waterproof barrier can be bonded to walls to prevent water ingress. When planning the basement, it will be necessary to look at groundwater levels in the surrounding soil and think about damp courses and waterproof membranes that are suitable for the property and the area. Each property is different, and a combination of techniques may be necessary.
Further waterproofing is required inside the basement too. Internal waterproofing is sometimes called cavity drainage, or Type C water protection, where a gap or cavity is created in the walls where water may collect, drained to a suitable point, then pumped out to a suitable location with a sump pump.
Quality basement contractors in London
A great basement project requires care, thought and planning, especially when it comes to keeping the basement dry.
Thinking about flooding and damp issues is essential when developing a successful basement project. However, choosing the right contractors will make this task so much easier, as they have access to all the latest techniques and methods for ensuring basements stay dry. Select a great team who will thoroughly assess your property and devise an efficient plan for water management, and you are well on the way to a beautiful new basement.