Anyone know a solution to a wet garage floor?
- Thread starter powlesY
- Start date
Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
What?
Is this even a proper garage conversion or is this a "I've put a bed in it and I'm wondering why it's a **** place to sleep"?
Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
Planning permission for a start I'd guess!
Soldato
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- 27 Aug 2003
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Come on dude - he's asking for help!!
Why not tie sponges to your shoes. If you have people over - encourage them to do the same.
Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
Come on dude - he's asking for help!!
The thing is though, if he had planning permission and the work was done to meet building regs then we wouldn't be having this conversation.
powlesY - post a photo up to show what has been done to the garage to turn it into a dwelling, then I might be able to suggest some remidial work.
You need planning permission though, else any remidial work I suggest and you subsequently carry out will be for nought when the council come round and order you to rip it all out.
For what it's worth I've never seen a sectional contrete garage be approved for conversion to a dwelling - minimum is usually brick or timber built so dry walling can be fitted if there isn't a cavity.
Sleeping in a damp dwelling is actually dangerous, hence the requirement for it to be done properly.
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Soldato
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Dont hire a gypsy to build your garage next time round. 
If that Protect membrane is down over the concrete floor then there is no way that you are getting moisture coming up from the slab. So, your other likely options for the moisture are:
- Leak in the roof/walls which you are not aware of which is ending up on top of the membrane.
- Major condensation problem, although this is not so likely if you are running a dehumidifier and you are not getting condensation on the windows.
Some details of the original construction and conversion (preferably with some photos) would be helpful, along with answers to some other questions, such as a) was planning permission obtained? b) Who did the conversion work (i.e. a proper builder, or DIY)? c) Did building control sign off the completed conversion?
ok, i`m an not even sure if these help in any way but i took some pictures of my garage.
That's the floor after "conversion"?? I'm not a builder but i can't see any damp course - it's not even raised!
Caporegime
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- 18 Oct 2002
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As he said, its not being arsey, a proper conversion with planning permission and a non cowboy builder who built it to regs = not a damp room.
Damp carpet, you're looking at rot, mould, all kinds of nasty things you could end up breathing in and getting sick, theres a very good reason for not living in an unprotected bodged up garage.
If the place is damp, with condensation all over the place, well, the phone is in danger, as are the electrics, and wood construction could be in danger aswell.
To be honest the op's description simply isn't enough to go on, couple pics wouldn't be a bad idea but a better explanation of the "wet" would be helpful.
Why is condensation a problem, is it freezing in there, is it baking in there and freezing outside, why's it baking in there, electric heater, or central heating. IS it getting wet only when it rains heavily, is only the carpet wet or is there rising damp elsewhere, etc, etc, etc.
Carpet gets wet, isn't enough to go on at all, also a damp proof membrane doesn't do anything to prevent rising water, if its installed incorrectly.
The pics were not provided by the OP - they are of someone else's non-converted garage. Just to add to the confustion
its just a prefab concrete garage
^^ you have said what i wanted to say
this is not a proper conversion, it is not even suitable for human habitation, as planning regs, will stop you have a sliding garage door
and the walls will have to be insulated.
that damp will end up giving you pneumonia or something else.
i would seriously reconsider sleeping in there.
how much higher is the floor of the garge from the driveway.
get a bucket of water and spill it out just outside the garage door.
does the water flow under the door and into the garage?
if yes then thats your problem.
also prefabs just sit on the concrete base, so unless the builder used a silicon sealant or something similar to seal the sides, than the walls are not waterproof.
water will seep under the walls into the garage
I'm no expert but it looks like a bodge to me. At best I wouldn't be happy with the finish on the exterior.
My Dad built it and he's a master builder (been building for almost 45 years). He's on about laying down some stuff on the floor but it's money neither me nor him can afford at the moment, and i'm not even sure that'll solve the problem (not to mention my old mans busy with a lot of other jobs). I think the finish on the exterior is just where he didn't cut the membrane so he put some weight on it and never got round to sorting it out.
