Although damp is a common (sometimes constant) threat for many properties, it’s one that’s still sometimes easily underestimated – even by the professionals! It’s no secret that excess moisture can look ugly and result in unsightly marks on walls and floors, but it’s important to remember that more serious cases of damp and flooding can present serious health risks, and even undermine the structural integrity of certain buildings. Luckily, this is exactly what tanking slurry has been designed to deal with.

What is tanking slurry?

Also known as cementitious tanking, tanking slurry is an effective solution that’s specifically designed to prevent water leakage, seepage and penetrating damp in walls and floors. It’s essentially a liquid coating that carefully bonds onto damp masonry, and then cures to form a handy waterproof barrier – ultimately doing a brilliant job of safeguarding structural integrity, aesthetics and hygiene.

You may already know that tanking slurry is far from the only way to tank your basement or cellar – there are a couple of other options on the market – but it’s definitely one of the most effective. It’s also easier to apply than alternatives such as bitumen, which is a nice bonus.

What is tanking slurry used for?

Tanking Slurry

Tanking slurry is most often used in basements and similar rooms below ground, most frequently acting as flood protection or as a measure against problem damp areas. Basements and cellars are those most vulnerable to damp, partially because of the groundwater that can leak in or rise up from the surrounding earth (known as lateral damp and rising damp, respectively). Left unchecked, this can quickly lead to black mould growth.

Tanking slurry, though, does an excellent job of stopping this mould and water ingress in its tracks. It’s equally useful both above and below ground level, which is why it’s also commonly used for damp-proofing wet rooms and wet zones before they’re tiled.

It’s a great waterproof barrier for brickwork, concrete and stone, which means it can be effectively used in modern homes, commercial facilities and older buildings alike – from brand new builds to distinguished period properties. Obviously, though, the latter requires even more careful preparation before the tanking slurry is applied, just to ensure that none of the valuable original building materials or structures are damaged or otherwise affected.

How does tanking slurry work?

Tanking Slurry

Tanking slurry is a two-coat system, and generally supplied in its original powder form. All you need to do is mix it with a bit of water until it’s reached a soup-like consistency, which is when it forms insoluble crystals that effectively work to block the passage of water. Then, you can simply use a brush to apply it directly onto the wall of floor in question. (This is just a brief explanation of course – we’ll go into more detail on how to damp proof a wall or floor in a future post!)

We offer a variety of tanking slurry products here at R&J Builders Hardware, including those from UK industry leaders like KA Building Products and Wykamol, in particular our white tanking slurry and grey tanking slurry. Feel free to browse our full range of tanking slurry here, or if you’ve got any questions you can always give us a quick call on 01254 52525. We’re here to help!