Part of Ward Property Services UK LtdNot every cellar needs a full waterproofing system. Many Victorian and Edwardian cellars in the Banstead and Sutton area are used for storage, a freezer or the boiler, and the owner simply wants them dry enough to be useful and free of the musty smell that drifts upstairs. For these, a proportionate approach usually works far better than an expensive conversion specification.
We look first at ventilation, external drainage and the condition of the cellar head. Improving air movement, clearing blocked light wells, redirecting downpipes and applying breathable lime-based finishes often transforms a cellar at modest cost. Where water genuinely enters under pressure, we will tell you and specify a proper waterproofing system instead.
Common signs
- ✓ Musty odour rising into the hallway above
- ✓ Powdery white salts on cellar walls and floor
- ✓ Condensation on cold pipes and stored items going mouldy
- ✓ Damp cardboard and rusting metal in storage
- ✓ Decay to the cellar-head timber and stair strings
Likely causes
- • Blocked or filled-in original ventilation openings
- • Light wells collecting water and debris
- • Downpipes discharging next to the cellar wall
- • Warm humid air entering a cold cellar and condensing
- • Absent damp proofing in original construction