Who are we?
YDC Basements is part of YDC Group, a brand of Catrake Limited, providing specialist construction and maintenance services throughout Yorkshire.
We have been converting basements, waterproofing structures and making cellars dry since 1991 and it’s fair to say we know a thing or two about this subject.
We pride ourselves as being true experts in basement waterproofing and conversions and as such we are one of the very few waterproofing specialists in the region to be fully qualified in this field.
Whatever your basement needs are, we can make it happen!
Why Choose Us?
Many claim to be experts in basement waterproofing and will tell you that they know what they are doing but in reality, they lack understanding of the subject, have never had any formal training and do not hold any certification. So really all you have is their word that they know what they’re doing. But is this really good enough when you are about to invest in creating valuable new space in a high-risk area?
Below we have created a list of qualities that we feel a true specialist should have, which demonstrate a commitment to giving you the level of service and confidence you deserve.
Qualified Surveyors & Designers
There is only one industry recognised qualification for a structural waterproofing surveyor - CSSW (Certified Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing). This qualification is only awarded once a surveyor has demonstrated their understanding of the subject by sitting and passing a written examination, an oral examination and separate examination covering health & safety, and legal aspects of their role as a surveyor. The CSSW qualification is widely called for by many within and linked to the construction industry, including specifiers and major warranty providers/insurers, such as the UK's leading provider NHBC.Knowledge of BS8102
BS8102 is the British Standard for waterproofing below ground structures. Last revised in 2022, the standard titled 'Protection of below ground structures against water ingress. A code of practice. ' contains the key design principles a waterproofing designer must consider when designing a successful waterproofing system. This standard was compiled by industry experts and replaced the former standards BS102:2009 & BS8102:1990. If a specialist does not mention this standard to you or does not know what it is then avoid them at all costs!A Qualified Workforce
Waterproofing systems need to be installed by skilled technicians. The slightest error can result is a catastrophic failure. For this reason, it is important that those responsible for installing waterproofing systems have been able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the subject. An NVQ in Sub-structure Work Occupations (Construction) - Structural Waterproofing as well as The Property Care Association Qualified Technician certificate - PCAQT (Structural Waterproofing) should be considered as the industry standard.Excellent Product Knowledge
Waterproofing products differ from one another. Although some materials may share performance principals there can often be many varieties of a material, even from the same manufacturer. Each can differ substantially in the way it is applied and forms. For this reason, it is important to be familiar with different manufacturers product ranges and installation guidelines. We only buy our specialist materials direct from the manufacturer or their approved distributor. We have a good relationship with these suppliers and technical support is always available from design stage through to after sales. This ensures that we have the latest information on products ranges, training directly from the manufacturer, piece of mind that our design incorporates the best product for the job and that the materials are from a fresh source where they have been stored correctly. There is no such thing as a one fit solution and you will NEVER find a full product range in any builders merchants yard not to mention technical advice or training.Genuine Guarantees
A guarantee is a promise from the guarantor to the beneficiary. The promise is usually a set of rules or statement bound by terms and conditions that if adhered to mean that the guarantor will keep their promise. A guarantee is worthless if the guarantor is unable to honour it, for example, if the company that has issued the guarantee is no longer trading. Many guarantees are not worth the paper they are written on. A consumer may think they are getting a long-term promise from the installer but in reality, they are not as the contractor will cease trading at the first sign of trouble leaving the consumer with no protection. In some instances, the guarantee may not even cover workmanship and simply relates to a material that has been used. These guarantees are particularly worthless as the material manufacturer will simply provide a replacement material if that, that is installed is found to be at fault. This is almost never the case as poor workmanship is usually to blame. When choosing a contractor it is advisable to check one or two things. How long have they been trading? Do they have a good trading history? What are the terms of their guarantee? Don't just take their word for it. It is simple to carry out background checks on a company for free online. The sign of a reliable company is one that has been able to demonstrate reliability and integrity. This will result in backing by other professional organisations such as guarantee insurers offering insurance backed guarantees. Insurance backed guarantees (IBG's) come in many forms but a bona fide insurance backed guarantee is one that is insured for the full term from the point at which it is paid for - such as one offered by The Guarantee Protection Insurance Company Limited. BEWARE - Some guarantees that claim to be insurance backed are not truly insurance backed. They rely on a third party to keep up with insurance payments on an annual basis. If this third party cannot or does not pay the insurance then that is the end of the guarantee. Avoid these!Insurance
You often see adverts where a tradesperson states they are fully insured. But what is being fully insured? To us, it includes not only statutory insurances such as employers and public liability, but also trade specific insurances such as professional indemnity (PI), product liability and product guarantee insurance with insured sums being realistic. It also means that we have declared the types of work that we offer to undertake. Waterproofing is considered a high-risk trade and as such insurance relating to it is usually higher than other trades. Remember, if a waterproofing designer or installer is not correctly insured, they will be unable to cover costs if things go wrong.A Good, Solid Trading History
Our brand is owned and managed by Catrake Ltd - A company registered in England in 1991 - over 32 years ago! Trading has been consistent and successful throughout this time and continues to grow from strength to strength. This is all down to the level of service we provide and the quality and reliability of our services. Over the last 32 years, we have seen many potential competitors come and go whilst we are looking forward to another 32 years!We are proud to be able to tick all of the above boxes and we know that only a relatively small number of other specialists within the Yorkshire region can too!
Credentials & Affiliations
We feel it is important that our clients feel able to place their trust in us. Therefore, we are committed to working with organisations whose sole purpose is to ensure good, honest working practices are adhered to for the protection, safety and benefit of all.
These are some of our partners.
We are full contractor members of The Property Care Association (PCA).
The PCA are a trade association representing the remedial treatment, structural waterproofing, invasive weed, domestic ventilation and flood defence industries.
As a member we are required to adhere to their strict codes of practice and are fully audited, in person, to ensure we continue to trade with integrity.
This really is the gold badge seal of approval.
As PCA members we have been able to demonstrate that we are operating our company to an excellent standard and that quality matters.
This gives us access to the best insurance backed guarantee (IBG) product from the countries leading UK based IBG insurer.
We are able to offer this product on some of the specialist rising damp, wet rot, dry rot, woodworm, waterproofing, wall tie and Japanese knotweed treatments that we undertake.
Unlike some unscrupulous IBG companies, this insurance is underwritten for the full term when it is registered and does NOT rely on an annual renewal with a 3rd party.
TrustMark is the only Government endorsed scheme for trades in and around the home. This award is given to registered firms after thorough vetting and on-site inspections to ensure the firm is raising industry standards.
This accreditation gives customers reassurance of quality and protection from rogue traders. TrustMark is the only ‘find a tradesperson’ scheme to cover all 3 cornerstones of quality including Good Trading Practice, Good Customer Service & Technical Competence.
Stallard Kane Associates (SKA) are our appointed Health & Safety, HR & Employment Law consultants.
Through annual audits and regular communications they help us ensure we are fully compliance with the latest legislation.
Our continued efforts have been recognised by SKA’s official gold seal of approval.
CHAS (The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) was created by experienced health and safety professionals in 1997 to improve health and safety standards across the UK.
It is now the largest scheme of its kind and recognised as such.
A health & safety compliant business is a business that understands responsibility. The responsibility it has to its people to help prevent accidents in the workplace and provide a healthy working environment, and the wider responsibility it has to help manage risk.
We undergo an annual audit to preserve our CHAS accreditation so you know you’re in safe hands.
The Basement Waterproofing Association is a trade representative organisation for registered manufacturers, suppliers and contractors in the UK of tanking and waterproofing products for protection of basement & cellar structures against water from the ground.
As a BWA member we have been vetted and found to meet the strict requirements of membership.