Will moving the ground help stop the damp??

Question

When my boyfriend moved in to his down stairs flat he discovered a lot of damp at the back of his house,He seems to think it is from where the man who lived there before built the garden up the side of the house and concreted over it (the bedroom window is the nearly the same hight as the ground outside) If he removes the stupid slopping path will this help get rid of some of the damp or has this got nothing to do with it ??

Answer 1

My advice would be to see if the height of the soil reaches above the damp proof course of the building.

This is about two courses of bricks up from the solid floor level.If the soil/path etc is above the solid floor level,this may cause you damp problems visible on the inside of the building.

Even older buildings have a slate damp proof course.Chemical damp proof courses are the norm now,but would not be effective if the outside soil level is too high.

If your flat is a converted basement you may have to tank it,but again this is a drastic measure.

Dig to this level or slightly below and then backfill the hole a little with gravel to allow water drainage.

When the damp has dried out in the summer,brush off any effluorescence (crystals) and loose paint on internal walls and repaint with a breathable paint,such as an obliterating matt emulsion which will allow any residual damp out.

Repoint the external masonry at the same time.

Answer 2

It's possible that the ground has been made up above the damp proof course thereby allowing dampness to penetrate. Also the concrete path is probably concentrating rainwater onto the wall. Try digging the soil away from the wall, then when dried out apply a coat or two of water repellent.

Answer 3

It will cure the damp. It has definitely been built up above the damp course outside.

Answer 4

by the sounds of it the "slopping path" will have to be taken out anyway as the walls really need to be water-proofed.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

Your walls need to be water proofed