Cellar tanking
Cellar tanking and basement waterproofing in Hull & East Yorkshire.
Cellars sit below ground, so water pressing in through the walls and floor is normal. Tanking or a membrane system keeps it out, whether you want dry storage or a usable room.
Backed by guarantees of up to 30 years.
Assessment
Starting with the cellar you’ve got.
We start by looking at how wet the cellar is, where the water is coming in, and what you want to use the space for. A dry storage area and a habitable room need different levels of protection. We also check for things that make the problem worse, such as defective drains, gutters discharging next to the wall or high ground levels outside, and fix those where possible.
If you’re planning to turn the cellar into a living space, building regulations will apply, and we’ll talk you through what that means for your project.
Systems
Tanking and membrane systems.
There are two main ways to waterproof a cellar, and sometimes a combination is best:
- Cementitious tanking. A waterproof render or slurry applied directly to the prepared walls and floor to form a continuous barrier that holds water back. It suits cellars with sound walls and lower water levels.
- Cavity drain membrane systems. A studded plastic membrane fixed to the walls and floor lets any water behind it drain away to a channel and, where needed, a sump and pump. Rather than holding water back, it manages it. It suits wetter cellars and older masonry.
We’ll recommend the system that suits your cellar and explain why, including any ongoing maintenance, such as servicing a sump pump.
One firm for the whole job
We do the replastering and making good ourselves.
After the waterproofing is in, we plaster or line the walls, make good around stairs, services and openings, and decorate if you want a finished room. Because we’re a renovation firm, we can also help with the rest of a cellar conversion, such as lighting, electrics and flooring.
That means one firm, one point of contact and one price, with no gap between the damp work finishing and a separate plasterer or decorator turning up. See our plastering and decorating services for more on that side of the work.
Before & after
What it looks like before and after.
AI-generated illustration
AI-generated illustration
Images marked “AI-generated illustration” show typical damp problems and repairs. They aren’t photos of our own work, and we’ll replace them with photos from real jobs as they’re completed.
Related services
Other damp problems we deal with.
Book a damp survey
Tell us what you’d like to use the cellar for and we’ll arrange a visit.
Backed by guarantees of up to 30 years.
Tanking and membrane systems: 10-year guarantee. Guarantee terms.
Frequently asked questions
Cellar tanking FAQs.
What’s the difference between tanking and a membrane system?
Tanking forms a barrier that holds water back. A cavity drain membrane lets water in behind it and drains it away. Which one suits depends on how wet the cellar is and the condition of the walls.
Can my cellar be turned into a living space?
Often, yes, with the right waterproofing, ventilation and finishes. Building regulations apply to a conversion to habitable space, and we’ll talk you through that.
Will I need a sump pump?
Some membrane systems need a sump and pump to remove collected water, particularly in wetter cellars. We’ll tell you if yours does and what maintenance it needs.
Do you finish the cellar after waterproofing?
Yes. We plaster or line the walls, make good and decorate, and can help with electrics and flooring for a full conversion.