Subsidence or rising damp? Or something else?
- Thread starter shellid
- Start date
Call the professionals in mate, this is beyond simple diy.
Yep, that's the jobs for this week. Going to pull the decking and laminate up and pull the carpet back and see what's going on then going to get someone out to fix whatever problems there are.
I've just pulled up a piece of laminate and it's concrete underneath, not floorboards like I thought.
I've just pulled up a piece of laminate and it's concrete underneath, not floorboards like I thought.
in the pic some of the wood looks dark, which might indicate it is damp.
Using the same lighting, photograph other boards and joists, and feel it, to verify.
If there had been drips, the dust would probably be disturbed
however water can run between flooring and an underlay.
the leak might be fixed now but the laminate will be spoiled
Using the same lighting, photograph other boards and joists, and feel it, to verify.
If there had been drips, the dust would probably be disturbed
however water can run between flooring and an underlay.
the leak might be fixed now but the laminate will be spoiled
This is the upstairs floor. I did have a feel around in lots of places and it was completely dry.
I haven't tackled the laminate downstairs yet, going to take the decking up and check the drains first. Then see what's going on under the laminate.
I know I'll need to replace the flooring, would you stick with laminate, or go for something else as it's a kitchen? Thanks.
I haven't tackled the laminate downstairs yet, going to take the decking up and check the drains first. Then see what's going on under the laminate.
I know I'll need to replace the flooring, would you stick with laminate, or go for something else as it's a kitchen? Thanks.
the wall looks like it has been very wet, possibly from drain leaks. Scraping off the paint to expose it to air will help it dry by evaporation
does the concrete slope towards the house, or away?
the bottom bricks look like they used to be painted black. Usually done to hide damp, though in fact it makes it worse.
with luck the original DPC will be level with the top of the airbrick. Can you see it?
I think the mortar has been eroded between the lowest bricks. Long term leaks do that to lime mortar. You can blast out the mud and dust with a hose, and repack them. It's OK to use cement mortar below the DPC and below ground.
Watch that gulley when someone pulls out the bathplug. What happens?
does the concrete slope towards the house, or away?
the bottom bricks look like they used to be painted black. Usually done to hide damp, though in fact it makes it worse.
with luck the original DPC will be level with the top of the airbrick. Can you see it?
I think the mortar has been eroded between the lowest bricks. Long term leaks do that to lime mortar. You can blast out the mud and dust with a hose, and repack them. It's OK to use cement mortar below the DPC and below ground.
Watch that gulley when someone pulls out the bathplug. What happens?
Okay I'll get the paint scraped off the wall tomorrow!
The concrete just seems flat really, can't see a slope either way. This is a full pic of it. There's still a bit of decking I need to get up tomorrow too.
I took a kebab skewer to the air bricks and some holes, it would only go so far before hitting something hard? Other holes it went all the way through. I'm guessing they shouldn't be blocked and they will need looking at too?
The concrete just seems flat really, can't see a slope either way. This is a full pic of it. There's still a bit of decking I need to get up tomorrow too.
I took a kebab skewer to the air bricks and some holes, it would only go so far before hitting something hard? Other holes it went all the way through. I'm guessing they shouldn't be blocked and they will need looking at too?
pour water on it and see which way it runs.
the black dirt looks damp to me.
both the corners look very wet
keep an eye on it until you work out where the water is coming from.
I can see a round thing between the gulley and the door. Is it to do with the drains?
...and it may be worth taking a peep in the inspection chamber - as it's been under the decking, it probably hasn't seen the light of day, for a good while!