Rising damp - lift floorboards to find source?

Suzkin

Hi,

I think I've rising damp in the kitchen (along the party wall), as the gloss paint just above the skirting board is increasingly becoming blistered. On the adjoining property side (the houses are terraced), the neighbours have a chimney breast somewhere there, plus the washing machine, boiler, and kitchen worktops boxed in along the wall to ground level.

My contractor noticed a slight musty smell and slight condenscation along the neighbours skirting board area (they let him in to take a look).

My question(s) is:
:oWould lifting the floorboards in *my own* property shed any more light on the source and extent of the problem? OR
:oWould I just be making more work for myself (in lifting the boards and then trying to relay them)?
:oShould I just get the area damp proofed (and tanked, as the neighbours ground level is slightly higher than mine)?

There is another area in the kitchen - away from the party wall - where the floorboards feel slightly sunk.

I'm on a really tight budget, although I appreciate the potential seriousness of this situation.

If anyone can suggest some sensible steps to help resolve the matter, please let me know.

Many thanks.

auntymabel

I think you should find out exactly what is causing the problem before you do anything. I would get a professional - builder? - in to look at it. It sounds as if the next door property is affected as well so I would think they would be interested in finding out and possibly contributing to the cost.

Suzkin

auntymabel wrote: »

I think you should find out exactly what is causing the problem before you do anything. I would get a professional - builder? - in to look at it. It sounds as if the next door property is affected as well so I would think they would be interested in finding out and possibly contributing to the cost.

Hi, Unfortunately, the neighbours are not interested, and couldn't care less. They are hoping that I (as always) will sort and pay for their problem to go away....................