Type A
Barrier protection
Cementitious slurries and spray applied membranes, forming a continuous barrier against the structure. Suitable where the structure is sound and the head of water is modest and well understood.
Hand & spray applied
Areas we cover · SW1W, SW1X
Basement waterproofing in Belgravia.
Belgravia was built in the 1820s on the Five Fields — low, wet ground that Cubitt drained and raised before laying out the squares. That made ground is still underneath, and made ground over a former marsh does not behave like undisturbed clay. It varies over short distances, which is why two houses on the same terrace can present very differently below ground level.
Ground conditions
What sits beneath Belgravia.
| Postcodes | SW1W, SW1X |
|---|---|
| Geology | Made ground over river terrace gravels and London Clay |
| Groundwater | Historically marshy low ground, raised artificially; the Westbourne culvert passes close by |
| Housing stock | Thomas Cubitt's white stucco terraces and garden squares, overwhelmingly listed |
The listed stucco terraces here leave little room for error: the waterproofing has to work within protected fabric and deliver a habitable environment, which in practice almost always means a maintainable drained system rather than a barrier bonded to historic brickwork.
Belgravia is one of the areas we cover across Central London.
Specification
Choosing the right system for Belgravia.
BS 8102 sets out three forms of protection. Which one suits a property in Belgravia depends on the water head, the condition of the structure and what you intend to use the space for.
Type B
Structurally integral
Water-resistant concrete construction, with joints and service penetrations designed as part of the structure. Usually the route for new basements and underpinned extensions.
New build & underpinned structures
Type C
Drained protection
Cavity drain membrane, perimeter channel and a pumped discharge. It manages water instead of resisting it, and it remains maintainable — which is why it suits most conversions of existing cellars.
Maintainable · Grade 3 habitable
Nearby
We also work in these areas.
Request a quote
Book a survey in Belgravia.
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll tell you honestly whether it needs a full waterproofing system or something much simpler.