Basement & Foundation: Waterproofing, Joints and Drainage

Basements and foundations are in constant contact with the ground and often with the water table, and any failure in these areas is difficult and costly to repair. Here you will find external waterproof basement envelope, waterproofing of construction joints, waterproofing of slabs under negative pressure using crystalline and cementitious waterproofing compounds, as well as solutions for earth-sheltered houses. Drainage is fully covered: dimpled drainage membranes (‘drainage mats’) on walls, the combination of membranes and perforated pipes, and internal drainage of existing basements. This is supplemented by a guide to concrete admixtures, such as mass waterproofing agents and corrosion inhibitors. ARGYNET specifies the entire system, from the concrete to the water drainage.

Solutions (11)

Damp and mould at the base of a basement wall above the skirting — rising damp requiring internal drainage

Internal drainage & moisture control

Basement & foundationSystem solution

A damp wall remains damp — but behind a liquid-applied membrane. Type C system in accordance with BS 8102: diagnosis, drainage channel, non-bridging lining.

Excavation of a basement with an asphalt waterproof basement envelope on the floor and walls, including a recess for a lift shaft and a contractor crew pit during installation

Construction of an external waterproof basement envelope

Basement & foundationSystem solution

The external waterproof basement envelope encases the basement in a single, watertight shell — and most of it will never be seen again. The guide begins with th

Spraying concrete with a nozzle onto a reinforced surface — application of a mixture containing additives for waterproofing and strength

User Guide: Mortar and Concrete Additives

Basement & foundationSelection guide / comparison

The foundation concrete forms the first waterproof layer. Superplasticiser, mass waterproofing agent, corrosion inhibitor, fibres — what each one does.

Cross-section of a basement wall base with a dimpled drainage membrane, a perforated pipe in gravel and geotextile at the foot of the foundation

Integrated Drainage Systems: The Synergy of Membrane and Pipe

Basement & foundationSystem solution

A membrane without a pipe collects water at the base of the wall; a pipe without a membrane allows pressure to build up on the waterproofing. They are designed

HDPE dimpled drainage membrane (drainage mat) installed on the basement wall prior to backfilling?

How is the dimpled drainage membrane installed in the foundations?

Basement & foundationApplication guide

The dimpled drainage membrane does not provide waterproofing — it protects the waterproofing. Cones facing the wall, a filter where the backfill consists of fin

Buried rectangular concrete tank in an excavation prior to waterproofing – ARGYNET LAB

Waterproofing of a Concrete Tank: Drinking Water, Certifications and the Correct System

Wet rooms, balconies & swimming pools

Waterproofing of concrete tanks using crystalline and cementitious products. Which materials are suitable for drinking water, application methods and curing tim

Joint sealing with elastomeric mastic on a waterproof concrete screed, with protective tape at the edges of the joint

Waterproofing of a construction joint in a waterproof basement envelope

Basement & foundationApplication guide

The waterproofed basin does not leak from the concrete but from the joints. Cord, tape or injection tube — and the 80 mm overlap that determines the result.

Excavation of the foundation with a bituminous membrane laid in overlapping strips on top of the concrete, prior to the concreting of the raft foundation

Waterproofing of Basement Floors (Radier) with a Rising Water Table

Basement & foundationSystem solution

Water comes from below and waterproofing is carried out from the inside: negative-pressure crystalline materials first, followed by an epoxy finish.

Schematic cross-section of basement drainage: membrane with geotextile on the wall, perforated pipe in gravel at the base and surface drainage channel

Drainage system for building components

Basement & foundationSystem solution

Waterproofing keeps water out; drainage ensures it never builds up under pressure. Perimeter drain or retention trench — and sometimes both.

HDPE dimpled drainage membrane with circular cones (dimpled) for waterproofing protection and drainage of basement walls

Installation of a dimpled drainage membrane

Basement & foundationApplication guide

The membrane fails due to incorrect orientation, insufficient overlap or a lack of drainage — not because of the material itself. Step-by-step installation.

Rendering of an earth-sheltered house on a hill with a visible stone façade, a swimming pool and a green roof that restores the natural terrain

Waterproofing of Earth-Sheltered Houses

Basement & foundationSystem solution

In an earth-sheltered house, any fault remains buried beneath the soil. Fully bonded membrane, radon barrier, joints and drainage with proven durability.