Installing stairs/steps to cellar

phil24_7

seante wrote: »

The floor is above, yes. Above that, there is a wall which has been knocked through, connecting lounge and dining room. Doesn't sound good for stability, whatever we put stairs down or not. Should I be concerned? No idea when holes were made. Floor is covered in bits, bricks, old planks. I grew up with a damp cellar and have to say, doesn't smell mouldy and damp.

What I mean is are there any floor joists going into/on top of that wall? Is there a structural wall above that wall (does the wall you mention have a wall above it and does this support anything in the attic)?

I wouldn't be majorly concerned as there don't appear to be any movement cracks and it looks far from fresh but if that wall is a supporting/structural wall then any works you do should include lintels above any holes or reinstatement of the wall.

If there is good airflow through there you can have a damp floor without the airspace smelling damp. Only way to tell is to get down there and feel it although no damp now doesn't mean there never will be!

Ectophile

http://postimg.org/image/98pfotz0v/
http://postimg.org/image/xhx733btp/
http://postimg.org/image/soht8pvhr/
and
http://postimg.org/gallery/37k2bpliu/

If you're thinking of using the cellar as a utility room, you'll need to check whether the floor is below the level of the drains. If it is, then you may have problems with any waste water.

phil24_7

Building regs would require structural drawings etc. You would then likely have to put dig out a foot or two, put hard core down and compact it, then sand blinding, then 100-200mm of insulation, the a 200mm base with 2 layers of mesh rebar...and that is probably a bit extreme.

To give you an idea. My cellar extension had this, but when I first moved in my cellar was dug out and only 2-3 inches of concrete put down for the floor. It has no cracks and I was putting my motorbikes in there before it was turned into a workshop/storage area.

I do wish I had dug it out a bit more (probably about another 500mm...should have hired a mini digger!) and put 100mm of insulation down but it's too late to worry about that!

phil24_7

Ectophile wrote: »

http://postimg.org/image/98pfotz0v/
http://postimg.org/image/xhx733btp/
http://postimg.org/image/soht8pvhr/
and
http://postimg.org/gallery/37k2bpliu/

If you're thinking of using the cellar as a utility room, you'll need to check whether the floor is below the level of the drains. If it is, then you may have problems with any waste water.

Water sump and pump, similar to a macerator, would sort that out.

konark

I wouldn't put stuff in a cellar.

Wood will rot.
Steel will rust.
Plastic will get mould on it.

They're good for keeping the damp out of the rest of the house.

phil24_7

konark wrote: »

I wouldn't put stuff in a cellar.

Wood will rot.
Steel will rust.
Plastic will get mould on it.

They're good for keeping the damp out of the rest of the house.

My cellar has all manner of wood, metal, machines, electronics, documents etc. There is not a jot of damp and nothing is even remotely the worse for wear. A properly installed DPM and concrete base will stop this.