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Waterproof membrane – cost per m² – UK 2026 Rate Guide

Budget rate for supply & lay · typical budget rate before your adjustments

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Waterproof membrane
per m² · supply & lay
£50 – £121 / m²
What is it

A waterproof membrane is a continuous sheet or liquid-applied barrier installed to prevent water penetration through floors, walls, roofs or below-ground structures.

Rate guide
Standard fully bonded sheet membrane to prepared open area£50 – £72/m²
Two-coat liquid-applied membrane£61 – £94/m²
Bonded sheet membrane to below-ground vertical walls£66 – £99/m²
Heavy-duty podium or root-resistant membrane£83 – £121/m²
Studded cavity-drain membrane with standard fixings and sealed joints£72 – £110/m²
Labour output
Open horizontal areas with repetitive straight runs80–120 m²/day
Typical walls or floors with moderate detailing45–70 m²/day
Numerous corners, laps and service penetrations20–35 m²/day
Broken-up areas with restricted access10–20 m²/day
Key rate adjusters
Substrate condition
Grinding, local repairs, drying and priming can add £8–£25/m² where the receiving surface is uneven or contaminated.
Detail intensity
Corners, upstands, penetrations and terminations commonly increase the installed rate by 15–35%.
Area and continuity
Small or fragmented workfaces can attract a 20–45% premium because mobilisation, cutting and attendance are spread over fewer metres.
Vertical access
Scaffold, podiums or restricted below-ground access can add £10–£25/m² compared with open horizontal installation.
Specification and warranty
Proprietary systems requiring approved installers, inspections and extended warranties typically add 10–20%.
Programme and weather
Accelerated sequencing, temporary protection or weather-sensitive working can increase the rate by 10–25%.
Quantity surveyor insights
  • Waste and buildability: Allow 8–12% sheet waste for laps, cuts and detailing, rising toward 15–20% on irregular geometry; early rationalisation of corners and penetrations materially improves output and reduces failure risk.
  • Scope and procurement: Confirm responsibility for primers, fillets, protection boards, termination bars, drainage channels, testing and substrate repairs, as these are frequent scope gaps; procure the membrane as a complete warranted system from one specialist where possible.

Estimate Anything AI answer · indicative budget rates · updated 31 August 2026

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