Drainage

When the underpinning has been completed, any drainage issues will be addressed.

We recommend a land drain to be placed under the floor to eliminate any possible water problems and build up of hydrostatic pressure.  If a surface water drain cannot be connected, a sump and pump system is installed. This is supplied with a battery back up and an alarm system in the unfortunate even of power failure.

A concrete floor screed is laid with drainage channels.  These channels are used to divert any water from the walls and or floor towards the sump (this is a water collection chamber) or drainage outflow.

The cavity wall and floor membrane is positioned to allow water ingress from the exterior through the wall but does not allow penetration to the interior due to the fabric makeup of the membrane. The water is allowed to run down towards the floor and into the purpose built channels to allow the water to escape.

The Oldroyd Patented Membrane System:
The advantage of this system is that it allows the water to naturally progress through the wall with out hydrostatic pressure and drain away, resulting in a dry useable space. Many other systems on the market claim to hold back the ingress of water of a certain pressure but once this pressure has been exceeded, the product is forced away from the wall destroying its function and causing water to escape and dampness to re-appear.

Other so called tanking products can only be administered to walls, which have been prepared by grit blasting or scabbled, then primed ready to receive the treatment. This product would instantly fail if any area has been untreated or indeed missed. These alternative products over a number of years will naturally breakdown returning your hard effort and money back into a damp basement.

Because you are allowing the water to flow naturally you are not pushing it to other areas therefore causing built up and pressure eventually permeating to the inside of the building. All, buildings new and old are subject to thermal movement, shrinkage and vibration.

Any product other than the one recommended can crack. When a hairline fracture appears the product is rendered useless. Cavity wall membrane is not affected by the items previously mentioned and can withstand oils, salts or acids which may leak through any wall.

After the completion of the tanking, a stud wall is built directly in front of the membrane, housing the services, insulation, and soundproofing to building regulations standards or more if required. The finishing is then applied to client’s specification.