Below-ground structures

Basement tanking & underground waterproofing

Hydrostatic pressure finds the weakest detail: construction joints, kicker joints, pipe penetrations, and honeycombed lifts. Maverick executes tanking as a system — not a single brush coat — sequencing surface preparation, active leak management, membrane or crystalline courses, and protection screeds exactly as the engineer and manufacturer define.

Maverick implements engineer-specified and manufacturer-approved methodologies. We document substrate condition, preparation, and film-build checkpoints — with independent QA available on major commercial scopes — so procurement teams receive defensible records, not marketing claims.

Positive vs negative side interventions

Positive-side (external) barriers are ideal in new construction. Negative-side remedial tanking often applies when excavating externally is impossible. Maverick is explicit about limitations: negative systems manage pressure differently and must be engineered.

Active leak management before skin coats

Fast-flowing leaks may need grout stopping, injection, or drainage relief before membranes see constant hydrostatic load. Skipping this step is why many tanking jobs fail in the first rains.

Lift pits, plant rooms, and parking slabs

Each has different crack risk and chemical exposure. Oil interceptors, brine decks, and fire sprinkler test failures change specification. Maverick’s risk register captures these inputs for facility managers.

Typical project profiles (anonymised)

  • Midrand office basement retrofit

    Crystalline and cementitious layering combined with sump redundancy stopped recurring lift pit flooding after failed DIY coatings.

  • Residential basement cinema conversion

    Vapour management and drainage boards were sequenced before specialist AV contractors entered.

  • Hospital plant room negative-side intervention

    Night-only working and low-odour systems met infection-control constraints while maintaining emergency plant access.

Related technical services

Frequently asked questions

Can you tank from the inside only?

Often remedial projects must. Feasibility depends on wall construction, water load, and engineer design — Maverick implements specified systems.

What about crystalline admixtures?

Used where specified for new concrete or remedial systems. Not a universal fix for active defect networks alone.

Will tanking stop rising groundwater completely?

Engineered systems manage risk to defined performance criteria. Absolute guarantees are avoided; maintenance and drainage matter.

Do you excavate externally?

Where programmes and neighbours allow, positive-side work may be advised — each site differs.

How do you protect new membranes during backfill?

Protection boards, sacrificial screeds, and sequencing notes are part of QA packs.

What testing is done?

Flood or hose testing may be specified post-cure; holiday detection applies to sheet systems.

Can you work with waterproofing consultants?

Yes — we welcome third-party design and hold-and-point inspections.

What VOC controls exist?

Low-solvent systems are chosen for occupied basements when datasheets and fire permits allow.

Do you handle expansion joints in basements?

Joint rebuilds often pair with tanking; we link to expansion joint crews internally.

What is the typical programme?

Depends on leak severity and area; multi-week programmes are common for large parking grids.

Verifiable Proof of Quality

Certified Applicators & Industry Compliant

Sika Logo
Plascon Logo
Dulux Logo
a.b.e. Logo
Marmoran Logo
MBA & NAMA Registered
Fully OHS Compliant

Ready for Verifiable, Zero-Risk Quality?

Contact us today to schedule an on-site assessment and receive your substrate-specific specification.

082 627 7082