20 Cloncurry St, London SW6
RESOLVING MULTIPLE WATER INGRESS DEFECTS IN A BASEMENT CONVERSION
SECTOR: Residential (Edwardian)
SCOPE: Basement Water Ingress Investigation, Waterproofing Assessment, Remedial Strategy
THE PROBLEM
The owners of this Edwardian home were experiencing ongoing damp and water ingress in their converted basement, despite having an existing waterproofing system in place.
Signs of damage were becoming increasingly visible — stained ceilings, blistering plaster, and a general feeling of dampness. Naturally, this raised concerns about the condition of the property, the risk of further damage, and whether the basement could continue to be used as a comfortable living space.
THE PLAN
Crownstone carried out a detailed inspection to understand where water was entering the property and why the existing system wasn’t fully protecting the space. Rather than a complete failure, it became clear that several smaller defects were allowing water in at specific points — meaning a targeted, cost-effective solution could be implemented.
CROWNSTONE’S FINDINGS
Our investigation identified a number of hidden entry points for water:
Weaknesses in the area beneath the garden above, allowing water to track into the ceiling
Failed sealing around basement skylights, letting rainwater in
A concealed issue near the rear extension where moisture was becoming trapped
Individually, these issues may seem minor — but together, they were causing ongoing damp and internal damage.
OUR SOLUTION
We designed a focused repair strategy to tackle each issue at its source, rather than recommending unnecessary full-system replacement.
Works included improving waterproofing externally, resealing vulnerable areas, and opening up hidden sections where needed to properly resolve the problem. Internally, damaged finishes were removed and reinstated once the structure was fully protected.
Just as importantly, our approach was built around the homeowner’s priorities:
Restoring a dry, comfortable living space the family could use with confidence
Protecting the value of the property by addressing issues before they worsened
Avoiding unnecessary costs by targeting only the areas that required repair
Reducing stress and uncertainty with a clear diagnosis and plan
Preventing repeat problems by fixing root causes, not just symptoms
OUTCOME
By identifying and resolving multiple hidden defects, Crownstone restored the basement to a dry, usable condition. The homeowners gained peace of mind knowing the problem had been properly dealt with — not temporarily patched — and that their home was protected for the future.
