I've just moved into a new house which has a really big cellar - it runs the full length and width of the house in one large room. It's relatively dry but has that usual kind of musty smell you get in cellars. What kind of cost would i be looking at, ballpark, for someone to come and tank it out? I want to put a pool table and stuff in and convert it into a games room. Going to get some quoted but hoping someone could give me a rough guide...
Varies depending on what needs doing. guessing at damp course, insulation, stud walls (?) electrics (?), plastering, floor (limed, lined and relayed) plus decorating - I'd budget for £5k.
RE: Varies It will definitely need damp course, insulation, stud walls, and floor, but partners Dad will do the plastering and moving of mains electricity...
Goes without saying where labours concerned, you only get what you pay for.....main rule: get a recommendation, check out work if poss. be prepared to wait for them to be available, sumbdi that can do it straight away is generally to be avoided. it sounds a load of work, but in reality not major. 2 weeks job lot if you were using one contractor. downside of using various means timelag in between and they'll no doubt blame each other for owt that fcks up.
RE: Goes without saying Agree with most of what you say but the timescale may be a little longer. Access to the basement may cause problems with subsequent delays and, depending on which system you use, the tanking can involve a longer curing period prior to the following works. A note of caution on the electrical works. You say your partners' father can do it but is he a qualified electrician? Electrical alterations require registration with the local council these days and must be carried out by certified tradesmen. It's all well and good doing it yourself or getting a mate to do it (we've all done it in the past) but if something goes wrong you're in the brown smelly stuff. Insurance will be void etc. Good luck.
How do I dry my cellar? We live in a Grade II Victorian chapel with a cellar built with stone walls and 1.8m headroom. We would like to tank the cellar to provide us with a dry storage area, but the conservation officer will not give consent as he is concerned that dampness would rise into the living accommodation, rather than draining through the cellar as it has always done. The land outside the chapel is in communal ownership, and we would be unable to do any external works. What can we do to achieve a dry cellar? FD, by e-mail Jeff replies Tanking cellars is almost always a bad idea, as it traps moisture in the walls, and can indeed drive dampness up into the living areas above. The solution is to line the walls and floor with a drained membrane system, which can be plastered to produce a dry decorative surface, but which will still allow any penetrating water to drain away behind it. Try Delta Membrane Systems (0870 747 2181; www.deltamembranes.com) or Oldroyd plaster membrane (from Safeguard Chemicals, 01403 210204, www.safeguardchem.com). </p> </p> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2004/08/31/pjeff01.xml</p>
