DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi all

I would be grateful for some advice on this one. I have an old (c.1909) solid wall house. The kitchen is in what was once the coal store, so it's lower than the rest of the house, and it's damp. The render is in poor order, the ground is too high, and I could use some advice on how to fix it.

We have had the rest of the house renovated so I don't want this damp in the kitchen to wreck the bit we've had done.

From the pictures you can see that I've started digging down, as the ground was too high and the render goes down to the ground level and lower...You can see from the colour of the wall where the earth was previously...But I don't know how deep I should go down, and what to do next?! Hack off the old render and do a DIY job? Leave it there, re point any obvious holes in the brickwork where exposed, and fill with gravel so it can drain?

Help appreciated...

Hi gilbert_20
You do not say whether the damp is rising damp or due to condensation. It is not possible to advise without this basic information.
Regards S

Thanks stoneyboy - rising damp.

Following some more reading on this site I have dug down c.15 cm below floor level with the intention of taking the ground below the DPC but as this kitchen is at ground level and not suspended like the rest of the house I don't actually know whether it has a DPC at all...

Hi gilbert_20
If you cannot find a dpc or there is one but it has substantially failed you will have to get one installed.
There is the possibility that the floor does not have a dpm and this will make the rising damp problem worse.
Regards S