Cavity drain membranes, tanking and drainage systems that turn damp cellars into dry, usable rooms, designed by Basement Waterproofing Association members. Covering the Medway towns, Maidstone and Tonbridge and across Kent.
Book a surveyBelow-ground rooms in Kent sit against wet ground, so water is pushed into them under pressure through walls, floors and the joints between them. A standard damp proof course can't deal with that.
Whether you want a dry storage cellar or a full conversion into living space, we design and install the right waterproofing system for your building and how you plan to use the room.
Older Kent houses, from Tunbridge Wells villas to farmhouses, often have cellars that stay damp year-round. On clay and near the Medway, water pressure against below-ground walls can be significant, so we design waterproofing around the conditions found on each site.
North Kent sits largely on chalk and London Clay, while the Weald in the south is clay that holds water. Low-lying areas along the Medway and Thames estuary have high water tables, and clay soils that shrink and swell can contribute to cracking in masonry.
Kent's character comes from its oast houses, weatherboarded and tile-hung cottages, Kentish ragstone churches and farmhouses, alongside Victorian terraces in the Medway towns and handsome Regency and Victorian villas in Tunbridge Wells. Older buildings built with ragstone, soft brick and lime mortar need breathable repairs to avoid trapping moisture.
Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham have dense Victorian terraces on low-lying ground near the estuary, with rising damp and condensation common.
Victorian terraces and interwar homes along the Medway, where flooding and high groundwater affect cellars and ground floors.
A riverside town on the Medway with a long history of flooding, where water damage and damp cellars are regular problems.
For most conversions we recommend a cavity drain membrane (CDM) system. A studded membrane is fixed to the walls and floor, leaving a small air gap that lets any water that gets through the structure drain freely into a perimeter channel and away, usually to a sump pump. Because it manages water rather than trying to hold it back, it copes well with older walls and high water tables.
Where conditions suit, cementitious tanking can be applied directly to sound masonry to create a continuous waterproof barrier. We often combine approaches, for example tanking to light wells and a membrane system in the main room.
We can provide the waterproofing on its own, ready for your builder, or manage the specialist work from survey through to a dry, finished shell. Every system is designed in line with recognised industry standards and comes with a written guarantee.
A PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyor visits your Kent property, investigates with calibrated equipment and identifies the cause.
You receive a clear written report explaining what we found and what we recommend, with a fixed quotation and no hidden extras.
Our own trained team carries out the work, protecting your home, keeping dust down and leaving everything clean.
You receive a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee for a single premium.
Our surveyors cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Medway towns. We regularly work in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Cowden and East Malling, and throughout Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, Dartford and Gravesham.
Towns and areas we cover in Kent
Find out more about our basement & cellar waterproofing service.
Book a survey
If you’ve noticed any of these issues, arranging a professional survey is the best way to identify the cause and prevent further damage.
Most can. Headroom, access, natural light and the water table all affect what is possible and what the waterproofing needs to do. A survey tells you what is realistic before you commit to plans.
A studded plastic membrane fixed to the walls and floor that creates a drainage gap. Water that gets through the structure runs behind the membrane into a channel and is pumped or drained away, so the room stays dry.
If water can't drain away naturally, yes. Your surveyor will advise. Where a pump is fitted we recommend a backup and regular servicing.
Yes. Our systems carry a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) for a single premium. We are members of the Basement Waterproofing Association.
Yes. We have treated oast houses, weatherboarded cottages and ragstone farmhouses across Kent, including an oast house in Hollingbourne, using methods that suit traditional construction.
We cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Dartford and the Medway towns. Call us to check further afield.
Our surveyors cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Medway towns. Towns we visit regularly include Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Cowden, East Malling, Gravesend and Halstead. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Kent
Our other specialist services for Kent homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Maidstone and the Medway towns.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Sevenoaks and the Kent countryside.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Dartford & Gravesend and the Medway towns.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Dartford & Gravesend and Tunbridge Wells.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Maidstone and Tonbridge.
Client testimonials
I would like to say a big thank you to Tapco for their professional attitude and service while carrying out damp repairs to my basement, finished 2 days ahead of schedule. Job well done and wouldn't hesitate to recommend or use again.
Live just outside Kent? We cover the neighbouring counties too.
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From our offices in Thames Ditton and Esher, our surveyors cover London and the surrounding counties, providing fast response times for residential and commercial properties alike.
We regularly work with:
Whether your property requires a damp survey, timber inspection or basement waterproofing system, our experienced team is ready to help.
Our certifications reflect our commitment to the highest standards of work and quality.
Why Tapco
Established in 1971
Choosing Tapco HomeDry means choosing a company with a proven history of protecting properties across the South East.
We believe every property deserves an individual assessment. That’s why our recommendations are based on what your building genuinely needs, not unnecessary treatments.
Tapco (Preservation) Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 423558) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender. Phoenix is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders. All finance subject to status and credit checks.
