Extension Problem (Possibly)

[Danny Lazaro]

Before I start with the area that I need some advice with I need to make you aware that I’m severely disabled, so household DIY/anything that you’d expect a competent person to know is something that I’m still trying to grasp in my adult life, so I apologise upfront if I sound thick or stupid (as I’ve been called in other forums) when trying to describe the problem(s) I need advice with.

My wife and I moved into our home nearly 5 years ago and the previous owners had built an extension to the side of the house that holds the utility room and a garage area next to that. We were initially impressed with how they had modified the house and we have since gone on to make our own changes (as you do).

Over the last 12 months I noticed that one side of the doorframe in the downstairs toilet (situated in the extension/utility room) started to go soft and has now started break off from the bottom upwards. I tried to figure out how/why this was happening which is when I discovered something that I’m almost sure is the cause.

I lifted the ‘lid’ that houses the water tank to the toilet (this is hidden behind a small plasterboard wall) and this is when I found out that I could see an exposed brickwork/floor that I’m sure shouldn’t be like that?

I’m of the belief that this is causing damp to rise up from the ground that is affecting the door frame and a small patch of damp that I’ve discovered whilst typing this here.

Would anyone be able to offer some advice with I need to do or whether I’m wrong in what I’ve found etc, please?

I hope you’re all managing to keep safe and well during these difficult times.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

How near the rotting doorframe is this hidden cistern? Nowt wrong with exposed brick floor/wall behind falseworks, thats sort of the point.
If the cistern is next to the doorframe i'd suspect a leak from the cistern before anything else

 

[sxturbo]

Post some pics aswell. Also if possible may be a diagram where in relation to the extension it is.

It does sound like there may be a leak tbh.

 

[Danny Lazaro]

Apologies, I’ll get some photos taken later today and post them here. I’ve since noticed some other things that are of concern that are emanating from the same sort of area so I’ll get some photos of that too.

Thank you both for your responses, I really appreciate it.

 

[Danny Lazaro]

So, here are some images that I took today. I’ve included a photo of the layout of the downstairs loo, which shows the rotting doorframe distance from the toilet. I couldn’t see or hear any water leaking from anywhere.

 

[Danny Lazaro]

I’ll just add that although the wood at the top of the picture looks wet it’s actually bone dry.

 

[Notch7]

Gosh that door liner and architrave are certainly rotten.

Is it attached to a single skin wall or a cavity wall?
What's above the toilet? Is it a flat roof?

It looks like it's a normal door liner TBH so prob not cavity.... but I'm just wondering what's behind that liner.

If it was a leak on or near the floor I would have expected the skirting to have suffered, but it looks ok

 

[23vc]

I don’t think the state of the door frame has anything to do with the boxed in plumbing, which there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with