WATER COMING THROUGH FLOOR - HELP !!!

[tdevans]

My aunt has lived in her house for about the last 18 months... The house has had an extension, and one of the rooms is for her three dogs !!

She today noticed that their bedding was wet - in one place - water nothing to do with the dogs - not wringing wet, but very very damp.

The wall is slightly damp, but from the floor upwards - we think that there may be drains under the extension, as she knows her neighbour has an inspection hatch in their conservatory.

We aren't sure what is causing it. I've had a good poke around - there is a drainpipe that comes down just outside the extension, into the ground, I have dug down, and seem just to have hit concrete, I presume foundations - but there is also a bush that was planted right up against the house - this has now been cut right back but has a very think stem, about 4 " sq, so will have some big roots.

I guess we are trying to figure out what the cause is before having to call someone out - the floor has been tiled in the last year, but was a concrete base, and the is a DPC visible from the outside. None of the outside walls seem wet ..

Anyway, enough wittering on - does anybody have an ideas - I have moved everything away from the wall - cleaned the floors (as this is the dog room) and I'm hoping when I go back tomorrow, it will give me so signs if the water is actually coming through the floor or up the walls ??

If anyone has any thoughts - I'd be most grateful

Many thanks in advance

 

[swidders]

Are you suggesting that a slightly damp wall has also made her bedding wet?

Don't suppose you've looked at the ceiling above the damp spot?

 

[tdevans]

Hi - thanks for your reply - damp from floor up - nothing coming down - and definately not the dogs (it is their beds) - floor seems damp by wall, which is also damp..

 

[tdevans]

also - could have been like this for a few weeks - it was only when she went to clean the room out that it was noticed - she has blankets on the floor with the dogs beds on them, just to keep them warm as the floors are tiled !!!!!!! I have tried to tell her they are just dogs, but they are her only company, so they get extra special treatment

 

[swidders]

Limited information from you - perhaps you could expand on

1/. Age of extention

2/. Any nearby water outlets (internal or external, including radiators) - may be due to leak in pipework embedded in concrete

3/. How long has this problem existed and has it increased

It may be condensation, or a breach in the DPM within the walls or floor.

Early days on our quest to find out, but the more details you can provide. So far we have established that it's not the dogs!

 

[tdevans]

Hi - fair enough - wish it was the dogs !!!

Think the extension is about 15 years old.. Flat roof with drainpipe running down into the ground on the wall where the dampness is... As mentioned, have dug down from the outside, and hit concrete around the drainpipe at all sides.

Radiator is on other wall ..

extension is across the whole of the back of the house, extending the living room, and adding this extra room where the problem is. I'm pretty sure there is an inspection hatch in the living room extension, as I've been banging the floor and there is a change in noise - and the floor creaks where the change of noise is. So my guessing is that there is possibly something running under the whole extension - trying to get draingage plans !!!


We have only just noticed this - but as mentioned, have cleared area, and cleaned, so we can see what it's like tomorrow..

Hope this helps, and makes sense - you may have to bear with my - I am female after all !!!! You'de think it would be my two brothers trying to sort this out !!!!!!

Thanks again for your input

 

[swidders]

Suspect it's more to do with a rising damp problem, more than plumbing.

If you do indeed discover the inspection chamber and find that this is full then clearing it should be easy enough provided it hasn't collapsed. It still leaves the question of how water is getting through the floor DPM.

 

[tdevans]

but would the floor be wet (damp) if rising damp ??

 

[swidders]

but would the floor be wet (damp) if rising damp ??

Possibly, but you have tiles over it so this would hide it.

Depends where the water is rising from - it could be mortar between the leaves of the cavity wall has provided a way up. Best to put this on the building forum now - there will be specialists there who can advise more accurately.

 

[Agile]

I think that a professional would start in the office and inspect the construction plans for the extension for any clues.

Then he would open the inspection chamber in the adjoining property to see what direction the exposed drains go in.

Well thats what I would do anyway!

Tony