Basement tanking
A waterproof cement slurry bonded to the walls and floor of the basement, built up in coats and left ready for plaster or paint.
Per square metrefrom $95
Keep the water on the outside of your walls
DryBase cures damp basements, leaking walls and tired flat roofs. Every job starts with a survey and moisture readings, so the repair matches the real cause rather than a guess.
$180for a survey with a written report
10 yearsguarantee on basement tanking
3 daysto send the report and quote
- Basements and cellars
- Walls and foundations
- Flat roofs and extensions
- Moisture readings on every survey
What the damp is telling you
Different water problems leave different marks. These are the patterns our surveyors look for before anyone talks about a cure.
| The mark you see | Where the water comes from | What usually cures it |
|---|---|---|
| A tide mark low on the wall, with salts and flaking paint | Ground moisture rising through a wall with no working damp course | A new damp course, once the readings confirm it |
| Wet patches that grow after heavy rain | Rain getting in through cracks, worn pointing or a leaking gutter | Repairs outside first: pointing, render or gutters |
| Water on the basement floor after storms | Groundwater pressing through the walls and the floor joint | Cavity drain membrane with a sump, or tanking |
| A crack in a concrete wall that weeps | A shrinkage or settlement crack letting water through | Resin injection to seal the crack |
| Black mould in corners and behind furniture | Condensation from moist indoor air, not a leak | Better ventilation and heating; no waterproofing needed |
| Drips or stains under a flat roof | A split membrane or a failed flashing at an upstand | A patch repair, or a new membrane if it is worn out |
Condensation is a frequent cause of mould, and when the readings point to it we say so rather than sell a membrane.
Cures we carry out
Each one follows a survey. Prices are a guide for a typical job, and the quote is fixed before any work starts.
Cavity drain membrane
A studded membrane fixed to walls and floor that leads water to a sump pump, for basements under steady water pressure.
Typical basementfrom $6,800
Crack injection
Weeping cracks in concrete walls sealed from inside with injected resin that expands into the crack and sets.
Per crackfrom $420
Damp course injection
A new chemical damp course injected along the mortar line where readings confirm moisture rising from the ground.
Per metre of wallfrom $60
Wall and pointing repairs
Cracked render, worn pointing and leaking joints repaired on the outside, so rain stays out before any treatment inside.
Per jobfrom $350
Flat roof membranes
Single ply and liquid applied membranes laid over flat roofs, garages and extensions, with upstands and outlets dressed properly.
Per square metrefrom $70
Rules on building work, listed buildings and shared walls vary by country and city. The survey tells you if anything needs approval before we start.
A survey that measures before it recommends
A surveyor spends about an hour at the property with a moisture meter, a thermal camera and a torch. Readings are taken across the walls and floors, outside as well as in, and the drains and gutters near the damp are checked too.
The written report arrives within three days with the readings, the photos, the likely cause and a fixed quote. When the cause is condensation or a blocked gutter, the report says so, and the quote is small or there is none.
- Readings marked on a plan of each room
- Outside walls, gutters and ground levels checked
- A fixed quote attached to the report
- The $180 fee comes off the bill when we do the work
From the first call to a dry room
A basement job takes one to three weeks on site. Wall and roof repairs are often finished in a few days.
Survey
Readings, photos and a look at the outside of the building, about an hour on site.
Report and quote
Within three days: the cause, the cure and a fixed price, with no pressure to decide.
Preparation
Walls stripped back to sound masonry, cracks opened up and the floor cleaned.
Waterproofing
Tanking, membranes or injection applied in the order the system needs, then left to cure.
Check and guarantee
A final round with the meter, then the written guarantee for the system installed.
Recent jobs, before the plaster went on
Most waterproofing ends up hidden behind a finished wall, so the crews photograph every stage for the owner's records.
From property owners (example reviews)
The survey found a leaking gutter joint behind the damp patch, not the rising damp another firm had quoted for. A small repair, and the wall has stayed dry through two winters.
Our cellar used to take water every spring. The membrane and the sump went in over eight days, and the room is now a dry workshop.
Photos at every stage, a tidy crew, and a flat roof over the garage that has finally stopped dripping onto the car.
Damp and leak questions
Is every damp wall rising damp?
No. Many damp walls are wet from rain getting in, a leaking pipe or condensation. The survey readings show which one it is, and the cure differs for each.
Can a basement be waterproofed from the inside?
Yes, in most cases. Tanking and cavity drain membranes are both fitted from inside, which avoids digging around the building. Outside work is suggested only when the inside cannot be reached or the walls themselves are failing.
Do we need to move out during the work?
Rarely. Basement work is noisy and dusty for a few days, and we seal off the rest of the house with sheeting. Roof and wall repairs happen outside.
What does the guarantee cover?
Basement tanking and membranes carry a 10 year written guarantee against water coming through the system we installed. Wall and roof repairs carry two years.
Is permission needed for the work?
Most inside waterproofing needs none, but rules on building work, listed buildings and shared walls vary by country and by city. The survey report says if anything needs approval first.
When is the bill due?
A 20 percent deposit holds the start date, and the balance is invoiced once the job is signed off. You pay the office directly.
Book a damp survey
Tell us where the water shows and what kind of building it is. A surveyor rings back inside one working day to fix a visit.
- Survey $180, taken off the bill if we do the work
- Report and fixed quote within three days
- Leaking right now? Ring +1 555 0220
Talk to the surveyors
The office takes calls on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Leaks that are coming in right now are answered first.
Surveyors' desk
Homes, shops and warehouses across the city and the towns within 60 km
Office hours
| Monday to Friday | 07:30 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | 08:00 to 12:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Our patch
Homes, shops and warehouses across the city and the towns within 60 km. Further out, the travel cost is quoted before the survey is booked.