Damp or smelly chipboard - how to sort out ? Damp can be a major issue in the home. Find answers to questions or post your own here.

[kwiatks]

Have decorated a room and we decided to get a new carpet - removed the carpet and underlay and looks like the underlay is really damp and has made the chipboard look damp across the whole 12'x12' room. We did have a leaking radiator but the spread of what we think is dampness is across most of the floor and doesnt have a patch starting at the radiator and spreading out from it.

Have had a dehumidifier in for 1.5 weeks and it hasn't clear the dampness up (well I think it is damp but its hard to tell).

I can scrap away on the surface of the chipbard and get to try wood after 1mm or so. So it's not something from underneath (there is a soakaway pipe outside this room). Have also drilled a small hole in the chipboard and it's not wet from underneath and the floor seems to be 1.5 feet above the group.

I don't really want to pull away the whole chipboard since would mean taking skirting boards off and I've just done the re-decorating !!!

There is a smell now and was wondering what I can treat the chipboard with to stop the smell and get a new carpet down ? - any help appreciated

[stoneyboy]

kwiatks,
You must find the cause of the dampness before fitting a new carpet.
Get a large piece of plastic sheet and lay it on the floor surface, if condensation forms of the underneath of the sheet overnight the floor is still wet rather than stained.
Did you use a wet VAX or similar to clean the old carpet?
To get rid of the smell you could wash the floor with a floor cleaner (which will make the floor wet again or use one of the deodorisers that are advertised on TV.
end

[the specialist]

Hi

It could simply be condensation. However First question is how old is your house?

I ask this because if its not a new house it means the floorboards have been replaced with chipboard. This only happens if there has been a problem with the floor previously.

Is the smell a musty one?

Please advise on both points and I will try and help you further.

Aidan

[kwiatks]

House is 1930, has been extended and this part of the house is the new section. Floor is suspended above the group by 1.5 feet or so (drilled hole in chipboard). Suspect its some kind of deposit from the underlay - not used a VAX on the carpet but we did have to stay in this bedroom (just sleeping) while having building work 2 years ago. Feel like replacing the chipboard with another type any recommendations on chipboard type ?

[id99999uk]

To check if it moisture get a damp meter
As it is a suspended floor check that the airbricks around the house allow good subfloor ventilation