Q. Is it possible for me to damp-proof my basement myself?

Submitted by: Unknown
 

A. The answer to this will obviously depend upon you own ability and the intended use of your basement. The intended use will dictate the level of ‘dryness’ that you would like to achieve and hence the type of work necessary to accomplish this.

In brief however if you are proposing to use a cement based waterproofing system then we would advise that you leave this to specialists. One of the most popular materials used today by professional companies when converting basements is what is called Cavity Drainage Membrane (CDM). This is a dimpled plastic sheet material, usually supplied in 40m² rolls, that is fixed to walls and may also be used on floors. Provided you are a competent practical person there is no reason why you should not be able to tackle a basement using CDM yourself. Before you commence you should of course take the appropriate expert advice as internal drainage and a sump pump will almost certainly be required. We strongly advise that you pay an expert for supervisory visits at various stages to ensure that you do everything correctly.

If you are slightly hesitant then leave it to the experts as should it go wrong then you would have someone else to blame.