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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Concrete or timber floor? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1375109746 Message started by bano70 on Jul 29^th, 2013, 3:55pm

Title: Concrete or timber floor?
Post by bano70 on Jul 29^th, 2013, 3:55pm

I'm thinking of buying a 2 bed mid terrace (in the north east) and have had a survey. Apparently there is damp in the ground floor front wall and floor. The floor area is 14ft x 14ft, currently concrete and the surveyor is recommending hacking it all up to solve the damp. Would it be better to reinstate a timber floor (house dates from approx. 1900) or go with concrete again? Is there a big difference in cost between these two options? Will it all take a long time to complete? Can anyone give me rough idea of the costs involved as I need to re-negotiate on the price of the house to be able to do the work properly.
Thanks all, your input is greatly appreciated. ::)

Title: Re: Concrete or timber floor?
Post by woodsmith on Jul 29^th, 2013, 4:33pm

If you fit a timber floor you will need to provide through ventilation underneath which may not be that easy. You say you have damp in the walls too, so you may have a ground water problem outside (basically the ground outside would be too wet and may need land drains fitting).

One possible alternative is to have the existing concrete floor asphalted where they lay a hot asphalt damp proof layer on top of the existing floor. This would not work though if the floor is saturated.

Title: Re: Concrete or timber floor?
Post by thescruff on Jul 29^th, 2013, 5:12pm

You need to identify the cause first, it could be rising damp, penetration damp, or even a leak in one of the water services, or a problem with the drains etc.