ᐅ Older building from 1971 – Is there waterproofing in the basement?

Created on: 9 Jul 2021 19:17
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basti009
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basti009
9 Jul 2021 19:17
Hello,
if an older building from 1971 has dry walls, does that automatically mean it has an intact waterproofing, or is it possible that it has no external waterproofing at all and still remains dry? Can this be expected to continue in the future? Recently, there was 50 liters per square meter (1.62 inches per square foot) of rainfall, and everything stayed completely dry.
Is there any way to check from the outside whether and how the basement is waterproofed? What should I look out for?
Nida35a9 Jul 2021 19:43
If there are no water stains, efflorescence, or discoloration from the inside or outside, everything has likely always been dry. Has any area been newly painted or cleaned?
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basti009
9 Jul 2021 19:48
Nida35a schrieb:

If there are no water stains, efflorescence, or discoloration from inside or outside,
then it has probably always been dry.
Has it been recently painted or cleaned?

No, it is a basement that has been covered with wallpaper and flooring. It seems to be the original wallpaper and flooring.
So, this should be an indication that I don’t need to worry much about the basement in the future, right?
Nida35a9 Jul 2021 19:50
Yes,
and a few more words
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basti009
10 Jul 2021 10:48
Ok,
What if the basement ends up with damp walls?
It is a semi-detached house. The front area can be accessed by an excavator from the street, but there is a garage on the side and a garden at the back of the house. Both of these areas would not be accessible by excavator. In this case, would an interior waterproofing be the only possible and sufficient solution? The basement is intended to be used only as a utility cellar. Or could it simply be left damp?
What would this cost, and should you set aside money for it?
K1300S10 Jul 2021 11:21
Excavation can also be done without an excavator – it just takes longer. 😉 I believe that in the 1970s, a basement waterproofing that would be considered standard today was quite possible. If you want to be sure, just take a look yourself (with a shovel).