Listed Basement Conversion, Kensington & Chelsea

Summary

Newton Specialist Contractor Arti Structural Waterproofing are a leading expert in all forms of residential and commercial waterproofing, with a reputation for delivering high-quality waterproofing installations. For this project, Arti had to provide a reliable and watertight solution to a Listed basement with strict conservation guidelines.

The Project

The owners of this Grade 2 Listed terraced property on Ovington Street, in the Chelsea Conservation Area in the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, wanted to convert the original basement vaults into a dry and usable space.

However, strict conservation guidelines required that any changes would not negatively impact the fabric of the building or the character of the area - therefore requiring close cooperation between Newton Specialist Contractor Arti Structural Waterproofing, contractor Adrian Design and Le Lay Architects.

The Solution

In order to meet the requirements of the conservation area, Arti Structural Waterproofing proposed a sustainable design that not only had the lowest possible impact on the existing fabric, but is also reversible if necessary.

The waterproofing system utilised Newton's 508 Mesh cavity drain membrane as part of the Newton CDM System, which is perfect where a sympathetic installation is necessary, requiring very little preparation and absolutely no chemicals or damage to the fabric.

The CDM System captures water behind the membranes then uses BaseDrain channels to direct it to a pump system for safe removal. Furthermore, to provide complete peace of mind, Arti also installed a pump monitoring and battery back-up system using a Victron Inverter and Pump Controller panel.

Finally, Arti plastered the meshed membrane with a 100% ecological material to provide sound absorption, insulation and further sustainability benefits.

The Result

Despite the compact size and complex configuration, Arti installed a waterproofing system that delivers a completely dry Grade 3 environment as per BS 8102:2009, and meets all Listed building and sustainability criteria.