Challenge

At the world-famous Tower Bridge, landscaping contractor Maylim was commissioned by the City of London Corporation to investigate why the Bridge Master's Quarters at No. 1 Tower Bridge was suffering from damp. 

After excavating, they discovered that the structure had no effective damp-proofing protection. Newton Specialist Contractor ASF Waterproofing was commissioned to install new damp-proofing measures to solve the issue. 

Solution

ASF Waterproofing approached the project in two phases, using multiple products to effectively damp-proof both inside and outside the building.

At the start of phase one, ASF correctly prepared and cleaned the internal wall surfaces before installing a new damp-proof course by injecting Newton 804-DPC into the walls at regular intervals, then sealing the holes with Newton 313-WP compound. The walls were then smoothed with a new internal render, ready for Newton 103-S cementitious waterproofing membrane to be quickly and easily sprayed to provide a final barrier to water. 

For phase two, the ASF team turned to the external walls of the structure, preparing and cleaning the surface before applying a new external render coat. The wall was then thoroughly waterproofed with four coats of the flexible, resilient Newton 109-LM waterproofing membrane. To ensure that the building was completely protected externally, the waterproofing began at 1m below ground level and extended all the way up to the existing windowsills. 

Outcome

Thanks to meticulous attention to detail and high standard of installation, ASF Waterproofing was able to provide both the contractor and the client with a high-quality and comprehensive damp-proofing solution. As a result, the City of London Corporation can now hand over the building to the new lease holder, safe in the knowledge that it is well protected from the damp.