Soil under floor space actually on the joists - Help

[ojnet]

Hi all

I have a Flat (ground floor) its a converted ex shop, 75% of the floor is concrete and I have small areas of floorboards.

I started having a roller coaster flooring issue in my passageway, I initially thought this was just warped tounge and grove (covering the passageway), so I decided to lift the tounge and grove today, it seems the problem is actually a chipboard panel someone had fitted in the past in place of floorboards under the Tounge & Groove.
This chipboard panel had rotted and was swelling.
I have torn a section of the chipboard away and to my surprise the soil level below is about 3"-4" (yes inches) below the floorboards it looks as though even the joists are partly covered in soil.

Should I dig this deeper prior to fitting new floorboards?

If so to what depth?

Would I be right to assume whom ever layed the concrete floor has just shifted excess soil to another loaction under the floor?.

Or am I on the wrong track

Heeeelp!!!

Many thanks in advance

Kevin (Portsmouth)

 

[Nige F]

You`re better off concreting these patches of wooden floor as they don`t have enough ventilation it`s bad enough when you have a whole front room wood and the back room concrete ( a common method from days of yore)...there is never enough ventilation provided...get a good builder in to dig out- concrete -apply damp membrane- screed- and reinstate skirting etc.

 

[ojnet]

You`re better off concreting these patches of wooden floor as they don`t have enough ventilation it`s bad enough when you have a whole front room wood and the back room concrete ( a common method from days of yore)...there is never enough ventilation provided...get a good builder in to dig out- concrete -apply damp membrane- screed- and reinstate skirting etc.

Trouble is getting a builder quick enough in Town (Portsmouth) in the summer, all very busy

Thanks

Kevin

 

[carryoncamping]

Trouble is getting a builder quick enough in Town (Portsmouth) in the summer, all very busy
Thanks
Kevin

It doesn't sound like a hard job as Nige F describes. Well within the reach of an ethusiastic and competent DIYer.

 

[ojnet]

 

[Static]

You may be opening up a can of worms trying to keep the wooden flooring, i would do as suggested and concrete the patches of timber floor. Unless the areas are huge.

 

[ojnet]

Any sites around that would inform me how to?
I'm a keen DIY'er but concrete floor in a new one

Thanks

Kevin