STRUCTURAL WATERPROOFING & TANKING IN SUNDERLAND
Free site survey, a written diagnosis and a fixed, itemised quotation — for warehouses and factories across Sunderland
Serving warehouses, factories and commercial properties throughout Tyne and Wear: building foundations and retaining walls, surveyed, specified and put right with proven liquid waterproofing.
How the Work Is Carried Out
From Pallion to Hylton Riverside, we work on building foundations and retaining walls with a focus on durability, compliance and minimum disruption. The specification is written against the standard that governs the work, so it can be checked by your engineer before you commit. Contact us for a free no-obligation survey.
Areas We Cover
And across Tyne and Wear
Why Choose MPS?
Barrier & Tanking Systems
We apply membranes and tanking to the outside face of below-ground structures, stopping groundwater before it reaches the concrete (Type A protection under BS 8102).
Liquid Applied Membranes
Cold-applied liquid waterproofing systems that cure to form seamless, flexible barriers. Ideal for complex details, penetrations, and irregular surfaces on retaining walls and basement exteriors.
Sheet Membrane Systems
High-performance HDPE and bituminous sheet membranes mechanically fixed or torch-applied to below-ground walls, providing robust protection against hydrostatic water pressure.
Cementitious Tanking
Polymer-modified cement-based waterproofing slurries applied to external foundation walls, creating crystalline barriers that resist water pressure while remaining breathable.
Drainage Composites
Geocomposite drainage boards installed over waterproofing membranes to channel groundwater safely to perimeter drains, reducing hydrostatic pressure on basement walls.
Perimeter Land Drains
French drain systems with perforated pipes and gravel surrounds installed at foundation level, collecting and diverting groundwater away from structures before it can penetrate walls.
Structural Waterproofing
Integrated waterproofing strategies combining external membranes, drainage layers, and structural protection boards to BS 8102 Grade 3 standards for critical applications.
Waterproofing the outside face only works where the concrete behind it is sound. Where the wall or footing is already cracked, spalling, or has been softened by sulfate attack, that has to be reinstated before any membrane goes on — our concrete foundation repair page sets out how each foundation type fails and how the defect is diagnosed. Where excavation is ruled out by access, services or an adjoining structure, the same wall is normally sealed from the inside instead; basement tanking costs gives indicative pricing for that route.
How the Installation Is Carried Out
Excavation & Exposure
Existing ground is excavated adjacent to foundation walls to expose below-ground surfaces. Temporary shoring installed if required for safety and access.
Surface Preparation
Walls are cleaned, defects repaired with cementitious mortars, sharp edges removed, and surfaces primed to receive waterproofing membranes according to manufacturer specifications.
Membrane Application
Waterproofing membranes are applied from footing level upwards with proper overlaps, sealed joints, and protection at penetrations. Drainage layers added over membranes.
Drainage & Backfill
Perimeter land drains installed at footing level, protection boards fixed over membranes, and excavations backfilled with free-draining granular material to prevent water accumulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does external waterproofing cost?
External waterproofing costs depend on wall height, excavation depth, membrane type, access constraints, and drainage requirements. Typical residential basement waterproofing ranges from £150-£250 per linear metre including excavation and reinstatement. Commercial projects vary based on scale and specification.
When is external waterproofing better than internal solutions?
Applying the barrier externally is generally the preferred option as it stops water before it enters the structure, protects the concrete itself, and doesn't reduce internal space. It's essential for new builds and recommended when excavation is already required for other works. Internal systems are more practical for existing buildings where excavation is prohibitively expensive.
How long does external waterproofing last?
When properly installed with appropriate protection and drainage, manufacturers typically state design lives of 25-50+ years for these systems. Sheet membranes and liquid-applied systems backed by manufacturer guarantees typically last the lifetime of the structure when correctly specified and installed.
Can external waterproofing be added to existing buildings?
Yes, it can be retrofitted to existing buildings through excavation alongside walls. This is often combined with underpinning, foundation repairs, or basement conversions to maximise value from the excavation works. Access and adjacent structures must be considered during design.
Do I need land drains with external waterproofing?
Perimeter land drains are highly recommended alongside an external membrane. They reduce hydrostatic water pressure against walls by channelling groundwater away before it can accumulate. This dramatically improves membrane longevity and system effectiveness, especially in high water table conditions.
Standards, Credentials & Documented Work
What you can check before appointing us.
Standards that govern this work
- BS 8102:2022 — Type A (barrier) protection, water-table assessment and the choice of combined systems
Who does the work
MPS Concrete Solutions was founded in 2013 and works from Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire (SG19 3JW). Our operatives hold NVQs in resin and grout injection, CSCS, SSSTS and SMSTS cards, and PASMA and MEWP (3a/3b) training, and are confined-space trained.
- Constructionline Gold member; SSIP accredited
- UKAS-accredited certification to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001
- Concrete Repair Association (CRA) member
- Sika-specified applicator
How we get to Sunderland
From our yard at Gamlingay in South Cambridgeshire, Sunderland is four to five hours. Planned as continuous multi-day visits, with plant and materials delivered to site and accommodation built into the programme.
We say this plainly because it shows up in the price. Mobilisation, access plant and preparation equipment are largely fixed costs, so a single small repair a long way from base carries a much higher rate per square metre than the same work next door to us, or the same work bundled with other defects on one visit. If you have more than one problem on the site, it is worth having them all surveyed at once.
Reviewed by Jerry Blears, Director (LinkedIn), MPS Concrete Solutions. Last reviewed October 2026.
Related external waterproofing projects
The Dumont, Albert Embankment, London Internal cementitious render to a PUDLO waterproof-concrete attenuation tank for St James Group, working in confined space; turned around in three days. Hilsea Lido, Portsmouth Full Sika waterproof coating system across the pool shell — walls, floor, ramps and curved transitions — with lane markings reinstated.Our Other Services Across Tyne and Wear
Most sites need more than one of these, and it is usually cheaper to have them surveyed together than to mobilise twice.
Industrial Concrete Repairs
Fix cracks, spalling & structural damage
Resin Injection & Crack Sealing
Stop water ingress & seal cracks
Penetration Sealing
Seal pipe & cable penetrations
Cavity Drain Installation
Control basement moisture
External Waterproofing
Protect below-ground structures
Membrane Installation
Waterproof barriers for all surfaces
Send Us Photographs and We'll Tell You What It Is
If it needs a site visit, the survey is free. You get the findings, the cause, and an itemised quotation in writing — the documentation your engineer, insurer or managing agent needs to authorise the works.
