Floor threshold before stone wall - to open or not to open

[HRS]

Hi all.

We have just began our renovation and our first stumbling block is this - slight damp issue (house hasn’t been heated in months).

I am about to begin the lime render process on this and though I wasn’t going to touch the floor and instead employ a skirting, I’ve realised there is a cavity that was filled with the old render - should I open this to stop chance bridging - or not necessary because there appears to be a DPM?

For context - damp could be a few things and I highly suspect its main contributor is the outside concrete render that has blown, and the road/pavement that meets the property edge

Any thoughts welcomed.

 

[malcolm]

Cement render outside and high ground levels outside will be causing the damp. It does help to lime render the inside so water can at least get out of the wall.

I tend to trim the bottom of the lime plaster so there is a gap between the plaster and the floor, then cover the gap with skirting. It's just another thing that reduces the water sources that can get into the plaster. Might be worth leaving the gap open at the edge of the floor. It would be better for keeping water out of the walls but worse for mice. Or chug it up with something but still leave a gap below the plaster on the walls.

 

[HRS]

Thanks for the reply. Curing any form of damp is definitely a layered approach. We put the first layer of NHL 3.5 on a few days back and we kept the gap clear.

I think the reason there is a gap is more to stop the flooring taking in the moisture from the walls - but any ventilation in those areas must be for the best.