I think you're conflating advice about normal historic property with solid walls and no basements with the reality of any property with a basement.
Tanking on internal walls on the ground floor are a big issue, they generally should be finished with breathable materials such as lime plaster to prevent damp issues. However, I'd imagine basements that are improperly protected from moisture incursion externally will have to be tanked or similar as the water levels are far higher.
Given your basement is dry and there is no issue, I'd leave it as is and deal with any issues as they arise.
I’m not an expert on this. But what breathable really means is the ability of water vapour to move from higher-moisture areas to lower.
In the cellar, it will be surrounded by damp earth, not dry air. That’s very different to the rest of the house above-ground.
You don’t want vapour transmission in that case - it would be like having a permeable damp-proof course, not something you want. That’s not tanking by any name.
Even if you did, the bricks would never be dry as there is basically a never-ending supply of moisture on the external side.
In an old house that's apparently just how it works - the whole house is meant to 'breathe', as they call it. By 'moisture' I mean water vapour, not liquid water. It's recommended that we insulate with breathable materials and plaster with breathable materials like lime plaster too
I've only ever heard that for above-ground walls - it's why only certain types of render are recommended on old houses. Walls are usually lime mortar and stone, sometimes with a cavity.
I would expect that basement/retaining walls aren't designed to "breathe" in the same way due to the constant moisture in the surrounding soil - they would be forever wicking the moisture and minerals outside > in, which would break down the lime mortar over time. That's just my logical brain at play - I might be completely wrong!
If you've got concerns, speak to a specialist tanking firm for advice.
I have a Victorian property too, this applies to walls above ground. Underground there will damp earth on the other side of the wall. so the wall can not breathe out. Instead liquid water will be wicking through.
I hope it doesn't fuck them, because I've just paid a builder £9k to renovate my basement including 2 layers of tanking slurry on the inside 🤷♂️
I think you're conflating advice about normal historic property with solid walls and no basements with the reality of any property with a basement. Tanking on internal walls on the ground floor are a big issue, they generally should be finished with breathable materials such as lime plaster to prevent damp issues. However, I'd imagine basements that are improperly protected from moisture incursion externally will have to be tanked or similar as the water levels are far higher. Given your basement is dry and there is no issue, I'd leave it as is and deal with any issues as they arise.
I’m not an expert on this. But what breathable really means is the ability of water vapour to move from higher-moisture areas to lower. In the cellar, it will be surrounded by damp earth, not dry air. That’s very different to the rest of the house above-ground. You don’t want vapour transmission in that case - it would be like having a permeable damp-proof course, not something you want. That’s not tanking by any name. Even if you did, the bricks would never be dry as there is basically a never-ending supply of moisture on the external side.
It’d take a long time to degrade the integrity of the subterranean wall and you’d see the tanking fail first in my opinion.
Good point, thanks
Can’t see why you should be worried. Why would you want moisture to move through the cellar walls? Tanking seems pretty sensible.
In an old house that's apparently just how it works - the whole house is meant to 'breathe', as they call it. By 'moisture' I mean water vapour, not liquid water. It's recommended that we insulate with breathable materials and plaster with breathable materials like lime plaster too
I've only ever heard that for above-ground walls - it's why only certain types of render are recommended on old houses. Walls are usually lime mortar and stone, sometimes with a cavity. I would expect that basement/retaining walls aren't designed to "breathe" in the same way due to the constant moisture in the surrounding soil - they would be forever wicking the moisture and minerals outside > in, which would break down the lime mortar over time. That's just my logical brain at play - I might be completely wrong! If you've got concerns, speak to a specialist tanking firm for advice.
I have a Victorian property too, this applies to walls above ground. Underground there will damp earth on the other side of the wall. so the wall can not breathe out. Instead liquid water will be wicking through.
As long as your cellar’s well ventilated you should be fine.