Cavity drain membranes, tanking and drainage systems that turn damp cellars into dry, usable rooms, designed by Basement Waterproofing Association members. Covering Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and Abingdon and across Oxfordshire.
Book a surveyBelow-ground rooms in Oxfordshire 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.
In Oxfordshire's historic towns, cellars beneath Georgian and Victorian townhouses can become valuable rooms, but listed status and riverside water tables in Henley, Wallingford and Abingdon both affect the design.
Cavity drain membranes are often ideal because they don't rely on bonding to old masonry.
Riverside towns along the Thames, including Henley, Wallingford, Abingdon and parts of Oxford, sit on low-lying ground with high water tables and flood risk, which puts cellars and ground floors under moisture pressure.
Oxfordshire is full of historic buildings: Cotswold limestone cottages, ironstone houses around Banbury, timber-framed and thatched properties, and Georgian and Victorian townhouses in Oxford, Henley and Abingdon. Many are listed or in conservation areas, built with lime mortars and solid stone walls that need breathable, sympathetic treatments rather than impermeable modern materials.
Georgian and Victorian townhouses, college buildings and riverside homes, many listed, in a city with a long history of flooding from the Thames and Cherwell.
Period riverside properties on low-lying ground, where damp cellars and flood damage are common.
Historic market-town properties beside the Thames, including Old Rose Cottage, where we carried out damp proofing.
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 Oxfordshire 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.
We survey properties across Oxfordshire, with Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford among the areas we visit most. We regularly work in Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Faringdon, Witney and Bicester, and throughout Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell.
Towns and areas we cover in Oxfordshire
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. Much of our Oxfordshire work is on listed limestone, ironstone and timber-framed buildings. We use breathable, lime-compatible materials and fix causes such as raised ground levels and failed rainwater goods before considering anything invasive.
We visit Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford most often, and cover the rest of the county on request. Call us to check your area.
We survey properties across Oxfordshire, with Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford among the areas we visit most. Towns we visit regularly include Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Faringdon, Witney, Bicester, Burford and Carterton. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Oxfordshire
Our other specialist services for Oxfordshire homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around the Cotswold villages and Oxford.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Didcot & Thame and Banbury.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around the Cotswold villages and Oxford.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Banbury and Didcot & Thame.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Client testimonials
The teams were polite, helpful, and efficient at all works involved. We had a significant amount of plaster taken off the walls and the team did all they could to keep the dust down, even putting up a clever improvised air lock in place to protect the kitchen/food prep area. Following payment, the paperwork and guarantees were forwarded almost immediately.
Live just outside Oxfordshire? 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.
