Damp-proofing and leak repairs for Franschhoek’s historic and working buildings

Franschhoek’s buildings were not designed around modern membranes. Thick Cape Dutch walls, lime-washed plaster and gables from the Huguenot era were meant to get wet and dry out again, and many of the damp problems we see in the valley began when that balance was upset by cement plaster, sealed paving or a modern extension. Good waterproofing contractors in Franschhoek start by understanding how the building was meant to work.

Hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters add to the strain. Flat-roofed additions, terraces outside restaurants and courtyard water features at guesthouses all expand in January and then sit wet through July. NPC works across the village and the surrounding farms, from private homes to hospitality venues.

Waterproofing contractors in Franschhoek’s heritage homes

Rising damp in an older Franschhoek house is rarely solved by painting on a waterproof coating, which can trap moisture in the wall and push it higher. We first look at what is feeding the damp: ground levels outside, blocked drainage, leaking gutters and hard plaster that has been applied over soft original walls. The treatment is then chosen to suit the wall rather than forced onto it.

Where a property falls under heritage guidelines, we keep visible changes to a minimum and can work with the owner’s architect or heritage practitioner so the approach is agreed before any work begins. Thatched roofs are a specialist trade of their own; our focus is on the parapets, gutters, flat-roof sections and junctions around them.

Modern additions cause their own trouble. A contemporary glass-and-steel wing joined to a centuries-old wall creates a junction where two materials move differently, and that seam is a common point of failure. We detail these joints with flexible systems that allow for movement, and we check that the newer roof drains away from the old wall rather than onto it.

Wine estates, cellars and hospitality venues

Several valley estates already know our teams, including La Motte, Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards and Allée Bleue. Estate buildings tend to have large flat roofs over production areas, tasting rooms with terraces, and cellars partly below ground where moisture from outside must be kept out. Typical work includes:

• Below-ground and retaining wall waterproofing for cellars
• Flat roofs and terraces above tasting rooms and restaurants
• Box gutters and flashings on large barn-style roofs
• Planters, ponds and water features in courtyards and gardens