Cottage Cellar Lime Waterproofing

Here is an old cottage, not listed, but in a conservation area. Due to the poor condition of the cellar, the cellar space was unusable. The floors were just uneven compacted earth. The walls were damp, salty and the masonry was slowly crumbling and decaying.

As part of a whole-house renovation, the owners wanted to improve the condition of the cellar, the make it dry, stop the decay and to make it suitable for storing miscellaneous things.

To renovate the cellar in a building friendly way, traditional Roman lime materials have been used that are capable of dealing with high moisture, salt crystallization and condensation easily, providing a sympathetic solution that can last for decades - much longer than modern cement-based solutions. 

The works included the following:

• Removal of 300 mm of top soil then levelling and compacting the soil.
• Application of 3 tons of hard core aggregate, compacting it well to form a solid floor base.
• Cleaning all walls, removing all remnants of the old cementitious tanking slurry.
• Removing all plastics and foam, reinstating the original condition and breathability of the timber joists.
• Waterproofing the walls and floor with the Rinzaffo MGN Roman lime waterproofing mortar.
• Applying a cocciopesto second coat to control and regulate the internal humidity, resulting in a healthy mould-free internal environment.
• Reinstating the ventilation.