What kept the flood water out? CONCRETE, Nothing else
This basement snooker room with two windows is still completely dry after a storm so severe rain was running past against the new structure inches deep for an hour just two days before this photo was taken
Concrete is the first material used in basement construction and your basement will not be waterproof until a team does its work well.
That is why it makes such good sense to do the concreting well. It’s first.
We are Waterproof Concrete WITH Site Supervision Ltd.
It’s simple. Use proven, fully waterproof concrete, do the work well which means with good practices and site supervision – and your basement will be waterproof.
This does not prevent you using any other water-resisting measure that gives you further peace of mind. But if the concreting gang knows there will be bituminous mastic applied, the concreting gang won’t take great care.
If the bituminous mastic team knows there will be membrane, the bitumen won’t be applied well.
If the external drainage team can see you will have internal drainage as well, then they could cut corners.
And if the internal drainage team can see mastic, membrane and external drainage then they don’t need to try their best either.
So the psychology that works best is:
1. Specify concrete that is absolutely waterproof and specify testing of concrete delivered to and used on site to BS 12390-8-2009.
2. Make sure that the engineer specifies sufficient reinforcing steel to restrict crack widths to what will selfheal.
3. Make it absolutely clear that any leaks through waterproof concrete are the fault of workmanship and any and all visible leaks are the responsibility of the sub-contractor to get repaired before his work is complete and signed off.
4. You might also specify site supervision of all waterproof concrete works so that the team receive some training and in the heat of the moment they are sent back to areas they missed with the compaction tool.
Over 11 years, our other business, Basement Expert Ltd, has developed basement construction so that basements are fully waterproof, that means dry, from concrete alone – built the basement expert way.
Basement Expert Ltd uses no tapes or strips in joints neither does it leave tie-bar holes through otherwise waterproof walls. In other words, after the last concrete has had about 10 days to cure, the waterproofing of the basement is complete without any repairs.
THAT SAVES A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY LATER.
Waterproof Concrete With Site Supervision Ltd supplies the necessary additive to make the concrete mix it specifies fully and completely waterproof and it can supply the training and supervision that are necessary for success.
Basement Expert Ltd builds about 10 basements a year by agreement. It uses fully waterproof concrete and guarantees that the concrete will never visibly leak water. However you should expect that the completed basement will be and feel dry after the structure above is complete and the basement cleaned thoroughly. Basement Expert Ltd may need to persuade you to make design changes for the basement to feel, as well as be, dry.
These are the formwork threaded bars, made with FRP instead of steel, that are cast in instead of removed from a plastic tube so that there are no holes left to repair.
enquiries@waterproofconcrete.co.uk
enquiries@basementexpert.co.uk
Tel: 01438 900303