ᐅ Older building from 1971 – Is there waterproofing in the basement?
Created on: 9 Jul 2021 19:17
B
basti009
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?
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?
K1300S schrieb:
The black material is probably bitumen, yes. That is still common practice today.Okay, but isn’t a dimpled membrane usually added nowadays? Is bitumen alone sufficient? And should the waterproofing still be intact after 50 years?
If the basement ever needs to be excavated: we have the garage directly attached to the house. You can’t really dig there, so how is that handled?
The dimpled membrane serves as mechanical protection for the waterproofing, preventing damage from sharp stones or other objects. This method is still commonly used today—alternatively, relatively thin extruded polystyrene (XPS) boards can be applied.
Fifty years would at least be a timeframe after which you should inspect the waterproofing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has become leaky. Still, if you’re considering purchasing the property described, it’s worth keeping this in mind. It’s definitely not a maintenance-free new build.
If the basement below the garage becomes leaky, the only option may be to waterproof it from the inside. Search for “slurry waterproofing” to learn more.
Fifty years would at least be a timeframe after which you should inspect the waterproofing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has become leaky. Still, if you’re considering purchasing the property described, it’s worth keeping this in mind. It’s definitely not a maintenance-free new build.
If the basement below the garage becomes leaky, the only option may be to waterproof it from the inside. Search for “slurry waterproofing” to learn more.
K1300S schrieb:
The dimpled membrane protects the waterproofing layer mechanically, preventing damage from sharp stones or other objects. This is still the standard method today—alternatively, relatively thin extruded polystyrene (XPS) boards are used.
A period of 50 years would at least be a good point to inspect the waterproofing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is leaking. However, if you are thinking about purchasing the property described, it’s something to keep in mind. It’s definitely not a worry-free new build.
If the basement under the garage becomes damp, the only practical option is probably to seal it from the inside. You can look up “slurry waterproofing” for more information. Ok, and in case of doubt, could the basement simply be left damp if it is only used as a utility or storage cellar?
And internal versus external waterproofing? What rough costs are we talking about?
The area is 12 x 6 meters (39 x 20 feet), with one side adjoining the neighboring semi-detached house.
Leaving the basement simply damp will likely lead to mold growth. In the past, basements were always damp, but they were naturally and continuously ventilated. This is usually not the case today, so it probably wouldn’t be a good idea. I can’t say anything about the costs, but there are specialized companies in your area for that. You should ask them.
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