Help--- I got a smelly floor

stephen_v

I'm living in a victoria/geogian house built about 1910. Ever since I've lived here there is a smell that comes and goes about this time of year particulary. I can smell it in my living room only at one end I've had a carpenter in and he has packed the joists in the wall as they were bouncing and he cleared the vents out so I've got sub-floor air flow, but the problem still exists. It seems to happen shortly after rain which has come after a dry spell.

It been sprayed for woodworm which also includes a funguside.

any Ideas what to do next??


thanks

Doozergirl

Maybe you have water sitting on the ground under your boards where the earth was previously dry if it happens after a dry spell?

I think you'd have to lift the boards when the smell happens and have a sniff around!

woodbutcher_2

Souds like you've got something rotting somewhere.Are all the joists,boards and soleplates sound?

BTB1_2

There's every chance that you have a cracked or displaced drain.

It is not uncommon for drains to run directly through older properties and the fact that your joist have been springing, further indicates some kind of movement.

If you can't locate the problem visually you could try introducing some dye into the drainage system (that is assuming you can get access to the sub floor to watch for results). Or better still a drainage survey.

Hope this helps.

stephen_v

Who would be the best person to lift the boards and look at all the joists and that? a builder or a carpenter or a structeral suveyor? who???

sorry I have no idea myself

thanks

lapat

as above you could have a cracked drain
or you could have a natural water course/level under your property either way you will have to lift the boards to inspect a good builder/joiner etc would be able to do this for you

if you do find your getting ingress of water that is a natural ingress rather than drainage problem then you can install pumps under the floor very cheapiliy and they are fully automatic as you make a sump hole where the water sits at its lowest point big enough to take the pump and its float and when the float reaches a level the pump kicks in
screwfix have a cheap one here
http://www.screwfix.co.uk/prods/77014/Power-Tools/Water-Pumps-and-Hoses/Clean-Automatic-Water-Pump-400W

but for lifespan if your intending to stay in the property i would invest in a dearer one as they will last longer and they are a lot quieter

stephen_v

I've had a builder in and ther is no water under my floor boards. He has no Idea what the problem is. I'm getting a damp specialist to look