Building survey finds damp floor - why? Pete investigates

Barn conversion - seemingly dry - but is it? Pete sees cupped floorboards and investigates. High ground levels are the main culprit.

[@saxmanzzz]

Love your videos. I'm learning a lot about keeping good ventilation in my Victorian terraced house

[@johndillon5290]

Love these videos, i never realised how intrustive modern building techniques are to these old buildings. I certainly have more appreciation now for what you guys do. It would be interesting to see some follow ups.

[@dantheman8905]

Peter you legend! Invaluable info on all your videos. I don't deal with damp issues really but when a customer approached me in regards her damp problems, she was desperate, and I had to help. Wally damp man had struck! Patio has been built up 2 brick courses above dpm. It's simple when you know how 😉

[@halstirrup]

Love your videos. I find it so interesting and hope to learn from your vast knowledge to help me deal with my house issues. Many thanks Peter!

[@WarmDryHome]

Thanks!

[@andymiddleton2343]

Great video Peter. As a building surveying student, it is great to watch someone with experience work methodically through a property. Thanks

[@WarmDryHome]

Cheers! Much appreciated .. Keep focussed on breathability - allowing air to move, and learn about the standards - BS 7913, 5250 - they all talk about not trapping moisture. And beetle wont affect dry timber - so just get timber dry... and you wont get rot or beetle.. Saves on chemicals!

[@martinbellwood9257]

Love your video's you have opened my eye and I have learned a lot. just at the end of this, you mention due to the dry lining why is that an issue

[@mamba101]

It must be so infuriating working in an industry so full of con men! Keep fighting the good fight!

[@MarcGray1990]

so to tidy up area of stone at the bottom after removing cement would you repaint with lime mortar?

[@brainzheenan]

I guess the DIY soil pipe extensions are to help pass smelly fumes above the roof windows, so people don't get the loft conversion stunk out, when they've got their windows open.

[@WarmDryHome]

Can just put an intake valve on and get rid..

[@tsb4u30]

You know your stuff...

[@stupa55]

What to do if the oudside ground level is say 0.8m above inside room floor level ??

[@WarmDryHome]

Drop if you can - slope ground away from walls, make sure drain well - if cant drop, internal plaster needs to be lime so any moisture can dissipate without causing trouble.

[@stupa55]

Thank you for the tip. I think we will use the last solution mentioned by you, cause the outside ground level must not be touched cause it does not belong to us :/

[@GeorgeMcKnight]

Hey there Pete, what was the solution to the problems found?

[@WarmDryHome]

Well - we advised clients to drop ground levels and make sure floor was ventilated. I don't know what happened in the end - we often don't as we are doing purchase surveys a lot of the time, and clients dont always feed back afterwards..

[@GeorgeMcKnight]

Peter Ward thanks for the reply, would be great to see a follow up video in time to come, would certainly wrap it up...cheers

[@barrymoynagh9270]

Hi Peter Just watch video on KZbin with waves in floorboards ..... That looks very much like my living room... We do have Mold problems witch over the years I have tried to resolve... Not very successfully... I'm having problems...! My wife likes shopping carpets & sofas they arrive Thursday..... Oh joy .... Happy 2017 .... 😫😫😫😫😫

[@WarmDryHome]

Barry - focus on the moisture in the air - ventilation is key - if temp and RH are too high, colder areas - eg base of wall - will have interstitial condensation. On the Heritage-House.org website is a link to a little thermo hygrometer - about £25 - get one from amazon and record temp and rh. Should be over 15 degrees C to about 20 c, and 50 to 55% RH. If RH is higher you have problems with moisture - then have to figure the source - cooking, bathrooms, high ground levels, blocked sub floor vents - vents too small etc - but none of this is rocket science, Any problems email us and we'll do our best to help. Pete

[@peterroberts9638]

I just had a damp proof company visit my property and was told i need a injected damp proof course to treat raising damp in my hall he tested the wall with a moister meter Its a Victorian house whats the likelihood of being raising damp.

[@WarmDryHome]

Practically zero. Ventilate the house - monitor humidity - total moisture content shouold be about 7 or 8 grams / m3.. Wont get any damp in that.. sub floors - ventilate. Kitchens, bathrooms - ventilate. Modern plaster - remove and replace with lime... !

[@sclayton6467]

Where abouts are you based?

[@WarmDryHome]

Shropshire - but office in London - work all over country though.

[@rogerwatson1170]

this is what happens when you try and get modern comfort out of a old building