I normally like a moist void (damp subfloor)
Discussion
A little backstory. My girlfriend and I bought a house which had been lived in for the past 38yrs by a couple who were clearly incompetent at DIY, but good at covering up issues with bodge. I'd say this was factored into the price, but it is London....
While getting the electrics done, we have found the sub floor void under the suspended living room floor is wet and full of builders rubble/ bits of rotting timber.
Predictably this means a few of the joists have rotted out. But more worryingly the brick piers supporting the joists have begun to disintegrate.
I've got some builders coming in to quote. But I would really appreciate some advice on what I should be asking them to do?
My inclination is to chop out any rotted timber, and wrap anything that touches a wall with DPM.
If the brick piers need replacing, what should I be asking for them to be replaced with? Engineering brick? Some modern alternative?
Oh and putting in a French drain because the gopping front garden patio covers the air bricks (probably the root cause).
Any advice gratefully received.
While getting the electrics done, we have found the sub floor void under the suspended living room floor is wet and full of builders rubble/ bits of rotting timber.
Predictably this means a few of the joists have rotted out. But more worryingly the brick piers supporting the joists have begun to disintegrate.
I've got some builders coming in to quote. But I would really appreciate some advice on what I should be asking them to do?
My inclination is to chop out any rotted timber, and wrap anything that touches a wall with DPM.
If the brick piers need replacing, what should I be asking for them to be replaced with? Engineering brick? Some modern alternative?
Oh and putting in a French drain because the gopping front garden patio covers the air bricks (probably the root cause).
Any advice gratefully received.
Esotericstuff said:
Oh and putting in a French drain because the gopping front garden patio covers the air bricks (probably the root cause).
Fix the root cause. Don't bodge on top of a bodge.A French drain will only collect liquid ground water, it won't get rid of damp walls/floor or the damp they then transmit to the air. Only cross-ventilation will do that.
Dig out the patio, reinstate the airbricks and make sure that there is cross-ventilation of the entire underfloor void.
Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear about the French drain. It will lower the ground levels around the front wall allowing for better subfloor ventilation, by unblocking the air bricks.
Depressingly there are obvious signs of 'damp proof experts' throughout the house, none of which have fixed the issues.
Depressingly there are obvious signs of 'damp proof experts' throughout the house, none of which have fixed the issues.
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