Flooring for my cellar

dominoman

I have a small cellar under the house where I keep my washing machine and dryer.

The floor is concrete, and we've had thin lino on it for the past few years. Problem is that the floor is always a little bit damp - though there's never actually any standing water

I was thinking of putting down floor tiles, similar to these ones:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/coba-europe-tough-lock-pvc-interlocking-floor-tiles-black-4-pack/82048

Would it be a problem if there is damp underneath? I've seen other tiles that have a gap under to allow the floor to breathe, but they cost much more.

wrightk

This could be one of two things. Condensation forming on the coolest surface (concrete floor) Or damp rising up from the underneath the floor. Id imagine (as it is a cellar) that it is the latter, although im unsure as you have said that you have a dryer in there which could be contributing to condensation.

Have you considered something like laminate or even real wood floorboards? You can buy a sheet of DPM for around £20 lay it directly onto the floor and install your flooring over the top, i did this in my lounge as we had damp rising up from the floor (1920's house no dpm)It instantly cured problem,no more damp feeling on the floor, zero mould growth on skirtings etc.

Id imagine the tiles you suggest to be OK but you really want something completely non permeable like a membrane down as you've found with lino it doesn't work

What sort of dryer do you have?

dominoman

I hadn't considered a DPM. That's an idea yes. I'll have to take a better look at the floor under the lino when i get home and see if it is in good enough state to lay on directly.

The dryer vents through a hole in the wall (the old coal chute) so the water is coming from below i think.

wrightk

dominoman wrote: »

I hadn't considered a DPM. That's an idea yes. I'll have to take a better look at the floor under the lino when i get home and see if it is in good enough state to lay on directly.

The dryer vents through a hole in the wall (the old coal chute) so the water is coming from below i think.

good i was going to suggest a vented dryer anyway as they are far better (ironically) than condensers imo.

You can just lay a sheet of membrane directly over the floor,if your laying laminate choose some fibreboard underlay or the fibreboard sponge equivalent (big square green sheets) to sit on top of the dpm.This will level out any unevenness before your final layer of flooring (if thats what you choose to do)

martinsurrey

wrightk wrote: »

good i was going to suggest a vented dryer anyway as they are far better (ironically) than condensers imo.

You can just lay a sheet of membrane directly over the floor,if your laying laminate choose some fibreboard underlay or the fibreboard sponge equivalent (big square green sheets) to sit on top of the dpm.This will level out any unevenness before your final layer of flooring (if thats what you choose to do)

100% agree

our vented suspended timber floor let a bit of moisture vent into our living room (not a problem with the house, just a quirk of 1880s design)

this down

http://www.screwfix.com/p/dmp-damp-proof-membrane-black-1000ga-3-x-4m/50464

then

http://www.screwfix.com/p/vitrex-premier-wood-laminate-underlay-boards-5mm-9-76m-green/68038

and then your chosen flooring.

Jobs a good un

moonpenny

Sorry to hijack this thread but could you use the DPM and lay underlay and carpet on top?

House was built in 50s with solid floors covered in hard thinnish tiles a bit like bitumen or hard rubber.

Had damp proofing done but have damp patches in several places in the lounge especially in front of the fire but, have run out of ideas.
There is no damp up the walls.

wrightk

moonpenny wrote: »

Sorry to hijack this thread but could you use the DPM and lay underlay and carpet on top?

House was built in 50s with solid floors covered in hard thinnish tiles a bit like bitumen or hard rubber.

Had damp proofing done but have damp patches in several places in the lounge especially in front of the fire but, have run out of ideas.
There is no damp up the walls.

before you fork out more be sure its not simply down to condensation/lack of ventilation.

You mention the fire? Is there a fire in there? has it been blocked up, is it ventilated?

im sure a dpm under carpet/underlay is doable but it will be harder than laminate as you may find the underlay slipping and sliding on the dpm underneath and consequently rippling the carpet. You could also look into tanking the floor with a rubber compound/paint

moonpenny

Been doing the house up that was bought before Xmas so not been lived in for over a year. Had new central heating system installed so has heating intermittently

There was a gas fire in there (used to be solid fuel with a chimney wall that attaches to next door)
I have had one of those new wide hole in the wall gas fires fitted and removed the hearth.
This is the main area of the patch of damp with odd bits on rest of floor.

I take your point about DPM not really being suitable for carpet.
Just don't know what to do now. Seems like I do 2 steps forward and 3 back.

dominoman

I'm thinking now to use Blackjack bitumen paint (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0012L8JHC) on the floors and on the brick up to around a foot of the floor.

Then, I'll put a layer of plastic floor tiles over the paint so it has a nice surface and to protect the paint from being damaged. I'm hoping this makes the whole area much drier than it is now.

phil24_7

Or use a tanking slurry (KA Building Supplies do a good one and they are very helpful). Paint 2 coats on the walls and pour it like latex on the floor, then a latex flooring over this and you'll be good to go. You could chuck some reclaimed carpet tiles down if you wanted it warm underfoot or a bit plusher.

tacpot12

I found that the Ikea equivalent product was much cheaper when I was looking to do this in our cellar. I've checked and it still is:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70238112/

It's also available in Dark Grey at the same price.