Are my floorboards damp enough to have to replace?

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Hi all.

I hope you're all keeping safe and well.

I am replacing the carpet in my new house (built in 1989) with laminate.

I have noticed that the floorboards upstairs seem damp (but they are not damp to the touch). Please see pictures.
DSC_0339_noexif.JPG DSC_0340_noexif.JPG DSC_0341_noexif.JPG
Do I need to replace the floorboards?

The underlay I am using is https://www.screwfix.com/p/vitrex-premier-wood-laminate-underlay-boards-5mm-9-76m-/68038

The laminate I have purchased is https://www.directwoodflooring.co.uk/farmhouse-white-laminate-flooring.html

The decorator states that the wall on the top of this photo has damp. This is an outside wall. I have neighbours to the immediate right:
DSC_0338_noexif.JPG

Thanks all.
 
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Buy a damp meter and test them, lots around for a few quid start around £5 better ones around £15 the better ones will have a meter to show how damp cheaper ones just rely on a buzzer. If the wall is damp the room may have been and so the carpet caused mould spots. Sort out the wall first.(y)
 
I expect you meter will come with a guide chart. If it helps here are pics of my meter with it's basic guides.
 

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As to the wall where to start! Check outside for cracks leaking pipes or gutters. If ground floor is the dpc covered it may have failed. Leaking pipes inside too and it could also be condensation thats a subject in it's self;)
 
Thanks all. Yes, I can check outside for cracks. There is definitely a cable from outside going in to the upstairs room. That did not cross my mind. I will not use aerial tv upstairs so I will yank that out and fill that up immediately.

Yes, the property was vacant for about 2 years. Hopefully living in it will remedy all issues.

Thanks again.
 
No, you dont need to replace your floor boards.
There's been a bit of condensation - look at the rusted screw heads but trickle heat and trickle ventilation should do a good job of drying it out.
Your 1989 house will have a wall cavity, & moisture would have to cross the cavity and any insulation in the cavity to dampen the interior - have you had any blown CWI?
Or a roof leak at the eaves could allow water down the cavity.

Why did the decorator paint over damp?
You can look into the floor void by lifting the cut boards at the Rad pipes.
I assume the wall is solid plaster and not D&D?
 
I don't know if there was any blown cavity wall insulation.

The wall did not seem odd/damp/mouldy. He just said that it feels like there is dampness in that wall.

I assume you want me to pull up a few floorboards to see if there is any standing water in the void, am I right?

I'm not sure what D&D is, I am sorry. It looks like the wall is brick that has been skimmed with plaster.
 
No, dont go pulling boards expecting to see water in a first floor void - it was merely an option.
As above, pics of the front and side elevations would help.
 
This is what it was like one year ago:

9db4e1d5d12bc5e1da2322b28480fd4c2569706a.jpg


It stayed like that for a year, heating on and off about once a fortnight for an hour.

Now it has been painted over.
 
What condition was the skirting on that wall in when you removed it?
Trickle heating and venting is on constantly for ... ? Your call.
 
Oh, a radiator, full of water and with pipes and valves and joints.

Is the wet patch close to it?

And a window, exposed to rain.

Can you mark where the wet patch is? It may give clues to the source of the water.
 
tel765 said:
What condition was the skirting on that wall in when you removed it?
Trickle heating and venting is on constantly for ... ? Your call.
Click to expand...
Hi.

Apologies for the delay.

I didn't really take much notice of the skirting when I removed it tbh, I just wanted to get things moving asap. I put them outside for removal and it rained on them so any dampness on them when you posted may have been from the rin.

I did remove the telecom box which showed the state of the wall under the paint, maybe that helps:

DSC_0351_noexif_1.JPG DSC_0352_noexif_1.JPG DSC_0353_noexif_1.JPG
 
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