Hi all
We finally got the keys to our thatched cottage this week. It's all go there already, with decorator, electrician, plumber and locksmith all busy so exciting times as we prepare to move in in 3 weeks. We removed the old carpets in the living room today and found a bit of a mess underneath. It's quite an old concrete floor with what looks like the remains of an old layer of bitumin on top, although this is all cracked and peeling away with large areas missing, revealing the concrete underneath which itself is a bit cracked and uneven. Only a bit of damp in the room was revealed in the survey which was on a wall abutting a neighbours garden where their flower bed level had risen over the years. A French drain has now been installed next door to try to solve this. The walls are old red brick (maybe 200 to 300 years old), single skin, with mostly lime mortar (some repointing done with modern stuff). I was considering replacing the old bitumin layer with some paint on resin but it occurred to me this could be bad news for the walls if moisture is redirected. I could just leave it as is, looks a mess but who will know once the new carpet is down. Funds are limited so we cannot really afford to do anything drastic like replacing the floor and damp does not really seem to be present. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Dave
We finally got the keys to our thatched cottage this week. It's all go there already, with decorator, electrician, plumber and locksmith all busy so exciting times as we prepare to move in in 3 weeks. We removed the old carpets in the living room today and found a bit of a mess underneath. It's quite an old concrete floor with what looks like the remains of an old layer of bitumin on top, although this is all cracked and peeling away with large areas missing, revealing the concrete underneath which itself is a bit cracked and uneven. Only a bit of damp in the room was revealed in the survey which was on a wall abutting a neighbours garden where their flower bed level had risen over the years. A French drain has now been installed next door to try to solve this. The walls are old red brick (maybe 200 to 300 years old), single skin, with mostly lime mortar (some repointing done with modern stuff). I was considering replacing the old bitumin layer with some paint on resin but it occurred to me this could be bad news for the walls if moisture is redirected. I could just leave it as is, looks a mess but who will know once the new carpet is down. Funds are limited so we cannot really afford to do anything drastic like replacing the floor and damp does not really seem to be present. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Dave