TANKING
When building or renovating spaces below ground, ordinary moisture barriers just won't work. In New Zealand, below-ground tanking means specially waterproofing any part of a building located below the water table. Since the soil in New Zealand stays wet all year, underground structures constantly face issues with dampness and water seepage.
To protect the integrity of your building and maintain a dry, healthy, and compliant environment, the entire underground structure must be sealed with a high-quality membrane.
Get in touch today!​
Call: ​​​0212 724272
Defeating Continuous Hydrostatic Pressure
Unlike external walls that have a chance to dry, below-ground structures deal with a persistent challenge: hydrostatic pressure.
This happens when groundwater accumulates against your foundation, creating strong pressure that forces water through tiny cracks and joints in the concrete. A high-performance tanking system must be designed to hold up against this ongoing hydrostatic pressure without failure throughout the building's life.
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For any usable underground space in Auckland and New Zealand, we strongly recommend premium self-healing tanking membranes such as Volclay.
Why Volclay?
Volclay systems use natural sodium bentonite clay. When this clay comes into contact with moisture, it expands, creating a dense, waterproof barrier under pressure. If the concrete shifts or develops small cracks over time, the membrane automatically swells to seal those gaps.
The Sahara Waterproofing Standards
As Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) with over 40 years of combined local experience, we do not take shortcuts with subterranean structures. Our stringent application process ensures total peace of mind and strict compliance with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC).
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Full Structural Encapsulation: We isolate your retaining walls, footings, and under-slab areas to create a continuous, unbroken below-ground tanking envelope.
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Approved Applicator Precision: We are certified, factory-trained installers for the industry's leading heavy-duty systems, including Volclay, Sika, Nuralite Equus, Ardex, and Allco.
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10-Year Workmanship Guarantee: Sub-surface structural mistakes are devastatingly expensive to remediate once backfilling and landscaping are complete. We protect your investment by backing our precision application with an absolute 10-year warranty.