Dall, slight dampness on internal cement floor

[Dall]

I have a slightly damp floor ( salts started showing through plastic floor covering after a few years).
Q.1 should l apply a damp proofing, risking migration of dampness to a wall.
Q.2 should l leave and cover with breathable quarry tiles or other breathable tile.
I’ve removed the plastic flooring and 50% of the glue. Much appreciated advice.

 

[aockenden]

Before discussing treatments, the first step is to try to pinpoint why the floor is damp in those areas to begin with. How are your external ground levels? How’s your guttering / downspout condition? Do you have any French drains installed externally? Could it be condensation for that matter?

 

[jamest]

Good advice from aockenden as always. I would add that if there is no damp proof membrane underneath your cement/concrete floor, then covering it with a plastic sheet (or plastic whatever) and leaving it for several years will inevitably lead to easily detectable dampness under the sheet. Concrete is not waterproof and moisture from the earth or whatever underneath will gradually move through it and then reach the plastic, whereupon it stops. The rate of moisture movement through the floor could be very small indeed, just cumulative over many years, in which case damp proofing it could be OK. You can always leave a vapour permeable bit an the edges as some have done. What you end up doing should depend upon where the moisture is coming from.

 

[Dall]

Thanks for your replies. Gathering info, will report back decision made and outcome.