Damp on concrete floor

[Cherrypop]

I have just bought my first house. It is an old 1850’s cottage.

On the survey the surveyor said that the property had some damp rising through the floor which ‘may’ be caused by concrete being put straight onto slabs and therefore the damp is rising through the floor. However he did not really fully know and recommended a damp proof report. The skirting boards in the room are also rotting.

The property does not have a damp proof course and in the room where the concrete floor is damp, the garden has a higher ground level.

We have had 2 separate damp proof specialists round and neither have pointed out the issue with the floor and think it could be caused by the lack of damp proof course and the higher ground level.

We are in the process of getting a damp proof course done and digging out the garden.

I would just like to know what people opinions are in digging out concrete floors and putting a membrane down and whether you think it is necessary or if there is anyway of knowing if it is needed??

 

[hornetstinger]

not a builder but would also look at the garden too, could a channel be put between the house and garden so water goes into drainage, rather than seep into the brick/wall and then up into the floor?

 

[Cherrypop]

This could be something I could look at. Will enquire with a builder thank you

 

[BigBoy]

I have just bought my first house. It is an old 1850’s cottage.

The property does not have a damp proof course and in the room where the concrete floor is damp, the garden has a higher ground level.

We have had 2 separate damp proof specialists round and neither have pointed out the issue with the floor and think it could be caused by the lack of damp proof course and the higher ground level.

noooo


First port of call should be to dig out the garden, the house is probably single skin natural stone and there for should not have a damp course, To be fair it should not have concrete floors either!

The concrete floors are the wet all over or just around the edges?

Damp proofing an old building has been proven (have a google) to be pointless in old properties that are not designed to have one. The two "Specialists" you have had round straight away saw damp and said get a damp course done, its how they make money!

I'm 99% Positive that the increased ground level will be the issue and an injected damp course will not make any difference.

Please save your self some money and treat the old building the way it was intended, Reduce the outside ground level to below that of the internal floors, remove any new last 20 years) plaster and re-plaster using lime based plaster, old stone buildings need to breath the mortar and stone will dry themselves out over time you just need to remove the soil that's against the wall let it dry out and see from there.

 

[Molep]

Maybe worth checking out this website - https://www.heritage-house.org before you pay for any work to be done, plus take @soldato 's advice.

 

[Nathan]

My parents have a place of similar age. The floors were filled in the 70’s. This caused damp as yo have explained. My dad recently dug it all out (over 100SQM) damp has gone.

 

[thezappa]

I wish my GF would share these opinions [sad face].
Ditto above though, raised ground levels and concrete have most likely caused the problem.

 

[fastwunz]

noooo


First port of call should be to dig out the garden, the house is probably single skin natural stone and there for should not have a damp course, To be fair it should not have concrete floors either!

The concrete floors are the wet all over or just around the edges?

Damp proofing an old building has been proven (have a google) to be pointless in old properties that are not designed to have one. The two "Specialists" you have had round straight away saw damp and said get a damp course done, its how they make money!

I'm 99% Positive that the increased ground level will be the issue and an injected damp course will not make any difference.

Please save your self some money and treat the old building the way it was intended, Reduce the outside ground level to below that of the internal floors, remove any new last 20 years) plaster and re-plaster using lime based plaster, old stone buildings need to breath the mortar and stone will dry themselves out over time you just need to remove the soil that's against the wall let it dry out and see from there.

THIS. A million times THIS. An injected damp proof course will cause havoc. Don’t do it. Lower the external ground level, replaster with a breathable plaster appropriate to the buildings age and wait.

 

[topgun06]

noooo


First port of call should be to dig out the garden, the house is probably single skin natural stone and there for should not have a damp course, To be fair it should not have concrete floors either!

The concrete floors are the wet all over or just around the edges?

Damp proofing an old building has been proven (have a google) to be pointless in old properties that are not designed to have one. The two "Specialists" you have had round straight away saw damp and said get a damp course done, its how they make money!

I'm 99% Positive that the increased ground level will be the issue and an injected damp course will not make any difference.

Please save your self some money and treat the old building the way it was intended, Reduce the outside ground level to below that of the internal floors, remove any new last 20 years) plaster and re-plaster using lime based plaster, old stone buildings need to breath the mortar and stone will dry themselves out over time you just need to remove the soil that's against the wall let it dry out and see from there.

This this this this this.