Any recomendations for the ground level below the floating floor?

[erol_flow]

Hi, before I swap out a rotten joist and re lay my floor, is there any thing I can do to the very base earth level? The earth down there is wet, I'm guessing this is due to some of the air bricks being cemented in, and also no drain running around the house. Will clearing out the debris help reduce dampness?

Also lots of the ground has gone white, like some sort of moldy salt reaction, any ideas what that is?

Theres also powdered building materials heaped up against the footings which can't be any good and they are damp so I'll be removing that... anyways just wondering if there's anything good I can do before re laying the floor.

Thanks.

 

[a twig]

Yep give it a good clear out and open up as many air bricks as possible, maybe stick a few additional ones in if you can.

Not unusual for the earth to get damp, as long as it can dry out again with airflow etc it should be fine. Take a look for any particular areas of wetness that may indicate leaks, sources of water etc. While you have the floor open you might consider sticking a fan down there so there is air movement which will help things dry. White stuff is probably efflorescence

 

[erol_flow]

Yep give it a good clear out and open up as many air bricks as possible, maybe stick a few additional ones in if you can.

Not unusual for the earth to get damp, as long as it can dry out again with airflow etc it should be fine. Take a look for any particular areas of wetness that may indicate leaks, sources of water etc. While you have the floor open you might consider sticking a fan down there so there is air movement which will help things dry. White stuff is probably efflorescence

A fan, that's a good idea, we are in a place with lots of water.

Also it might be a silly question but how beneficial will it be to repoint these bricks?

They all look like that along this wall where the joist has rotten.

 

[erol_flow]

After clearing all the powdered materials from the edges, I'm finding there is a void around the foundations. The brick wall rests on solid granite boulders, (these are in ample supply round here), the ground level seems to be some kind of hard sand material. I wonder what the best thing would be.. infill the void with gravel? I think I may have answered my own question.

 

[a twig]

A fan, that's a good idea, we are in a place with lots of water.

Also it might be a silly question but how beneficial will it be to repoint these bricks?

They all look like that along this wall where the joist has rotten.View attachment 14125

Yep, worth a repoint in lime, NHL2 is probably fine