Understanding Cavity Membrane Systems and Their Functionality

There are many ways to damp proof buildings and in this article, we take a look at cavity membrane systems, which are generally used in basements, cellars and any below-ground structure.

How do cavity membrane systems work?

There are 3 main components to a cavity membrane system, namely:

• Cavity membrane – Made from High Density Polyethylene (HDEP), the membrane has studs to create a cavity between the walls and the membrane. Water is then directed into the drainage channels on the floor, keeping the walls and floor dry.
• Drainage channels – Placed at the base of walls, these channels divert water to designated discharge points.
• Pump system and sump – The pump is located near the drainage channels and removes the water, sending it to the drainage system. The sump chamber holds the water until it is pumped clear of the building.

Floor and wall membranes are different, with the floor membrane usually having a wider gap than wall membranes, which allows large volumes of water to escape the space. The cavity between the interior walls and the substrate should be large enough to accommodate water and if installed correctly, this should be sufficient to keep the interior dry.

Basement tanking

This term is used for basement or cellar waterproofing and a type C cavity membrane system is a very effective way to waterproof a basement or cellar. We do not recommend that you carry our basement tanking yourself, as it is specialised work that should be done by an experienced team; at London Damp Specialists, we are experts at all forms of waterproofing, especially basement tanking. If you would like a professional assessment and a quote, call us on 020 8528 3864 or fill in the form on our website.

Tailored to the property

Every basement is unique and the waterproofing should be designed around the space; there are several basement tanking systems and a specialist would choose the most suitable. Our work is of the highest standard, which is why we offer an unconditional 30-year warranty; in the event a treated area has further damp issues, we will repair this at no cost to the customer.

Climate change

The weather is no longer predictable, especially here in London and the southeast where we seem to have endless days of cloudy, wet weather. This means there is a higher risk of damp issues in London properties and if you are seeing signs of moisture in your below-ground living space, we offer comprehensive basement wall moisture protection and what’s more, we issue a full 30-year guarantee on our basement tanking in London and surrounding areas.

Homebuyer damp survey

Those who are planning to buy a London property that has a basement should call us on 020 8258 3864; we can carry out a thorough basement damp assessment, as well as inspecting the rest of the property looking for tell-tale signs of moisture penetration. The only way to be sure that a property is free from damp and mould is to carry out a thorough damp survey, which could save you thousands of pounds in damp repairs.