Cellar question.

[The Don of Croy]

Just looked at an Edwardian detached property with a cellar.

House is very nice, modernised, centrally heated, attractive prospect.

But should I be concerned about a damp cellar? No running water, just damp from water table rising and falling, and this has negatively affected the current linings which are warping etc. Probably needs stripping and relining with damp proof boards.

There is no sign of damp at ground floor, and looks like a damp proof course has been injected (or whatever it’s termed).

There’s also a septic tank. I thought they’d been outlawed!

Any advice welcome.

[PhilboSE]

Cellars of that era were designed to be damp. The dampness will vary depending on season and weather. Modern materials that absorb damp shouldn’t been there, but it doesn’t stop people from doing inappropriate things. Just use the cellar appropriately and don’t try and treat it as dry storage.

[Mobile Chicane]

PhilboSE said:

Cellars of that era were designed to be damp. The dampness will vary depending on season and weather. Modern materials that absorb damp shouldn’t been there, but it doesn’t stop people from doing inappropriate things. Just use the cellar appropriately and don’t try and treat it as dry storage.

To a point, but there's a level of resilience to extreme weather events required now that the Edwardians couldn't possibly have anticipated.

How's the drainage around the property, how are the gutters holding up? Any run-off from elsewhere?

A water treatment plant isn't mandated unless discharging to a water course.

[Equus]

PhilboSE said:

Cellars of that era were designed to be damp.

I think it's more accurate to say that they lacked the ability to design them to be dry.

I mean, I don't imagine that Edwardian Architects sat down at their drawing boards and thought 'I must make sure this house is cold and draughty and that the cellar isn't properly waterproof, because what we really need is a few more cases of consumption. And while I'm about it, I'd better just move that cess pit a bit closer to the well, otherwise half the children won't die of cholera and the school fees will get quite out of hand'.

They don't build 'em like they used to.

[PhilboSE]

Equus said:

PhilboSE said:

Cellars of that era were designed to be damp.

I think it's more accurate to say that they lacked the ability to design them to be dry.

That’s fair enough, poor phraseology from me. Probably should have said they weren’t designed to be dry.

[dmsims]

Mobile Chicane said:

To a point, but there's a level of resilience to extreme weather events required now that the Edwardians couldn't possibly have anticipated.

[The Don of Croy]

Thank you (all) for your responses.

I did once live in a similar age house with cellar, but we moved when I was 8yo and didn't give it much thought (mainly because it too was a damp and dark place and therefore not somewhere you lurked).

We'll defo keep this on the shortlist for (as and when) we find a buyer for our place.

[Purosangue]

dmsims said:

Mobile Chicane said:

To a point, but there's a level of resilience to extreme weather events required now that the Edwardians couldn't possibly have anticipated.

looks like a Crypt for storing dead pets