Damp Proofing a Basement

Jim_Pilling

We have recently moved into a 140 year old house in Morecambe and we wish to convert a basement room into a liveable area. However, it has rising damp.
The room is actually underground on only one of it's four walls - the level of these rooms is above ground level at the back (if that makes sense).but the damp is present on all four walls.
We have had three companies in to inspect the issue and we have had three different ideas to solve it.
The first one recommended tanking it with several coats of a chemical and laying a membrane on the floor.
The second one suggested putting a waterproofing membrane against the walls and covering it up with plasterboard. Again, a membrane on the floor was mentioned.
The third one suggested stripping off all the plaster and fitting insulating plasterboard, again with a membrane on the floor.
After doing some reading I am worried that some of these suggestions may make the problem worse.
Can anyone help us here please? We would be able to do the work ourselves but we are struggling to think of the best plan of action.

Thank you.

phil24_7

Get a damp specialist in as there are many ways to sort the problem and just as many to make it worse.

You may need the subfloor lifting, a damp proof membrane putting down, insulating (this will be needed for building control) and concreting. There may well be specific detailing needed around the perimeter.

Equally you may get away will DPM and insulation on the floor and a tanking slurry painted on the walls.

The better way is to put a special plastic membrane on the walls and floor and have a sump and pump installed in the floor (along with replacing and insulation the floor) and then insulating the walls before boarding and plastering.