Possible water ingress

[Marky123]

Hello
We have recently bought a 60 y.o bungalow. That seems fine. I had noticed water staining on the outside wall near a drain. We are now having new carpets laid and when I pulled up old carpet noticed some historic water staining on floorboards. The floor boards and carpet are dry.
We have been told that the road outside does very occasionally flood but no properties have been flooded but we are the house at the lowest point in the road!
The green wire over the drain was just put there by previous owners to stop leaves going down. I have also done some cement work on the drain where there were cracks in it. The DPC looks fine and is at a sufficiently high level.
It looks to me that water may be coming through air bricks and/or up through drain in extreme conditions. I have bought some airbrick covers to use if necessary but would like to try and sort the problem. Any ideas, should I get a specialist surveyor or builder to have a look?

 

[Bonni]

In the past, someone has spilt water onto the carpet/floorboards. There could be a reasonable chance of, lets just say, an elderly owner in the past that may not have got to the toilet.

 

[JohnD]

the ground against the wall (outside) is wet. Had it just been raining? Or is water coming from the drain or some other source?

the bricks below the DPC look like they have been long-term wet. This might just be groundwater, but as they are close to a gulley, look for any signs of running over or leaking. Look at the top of the gulley, and the ground around it. Is there any sign that it has sunk, tilted or settled in the ground? Often this will be concealed by patching with concrete or mortar or tiles.

A broken gulley is very common, and leaks into the ground, turning it to mud, which causes the ground and the gulley to sink.

As for the floorboards, if you still have access, give them a good scrub (or sand off) so the wood looks clean and fresh, and then, if it stays like new, you'll know the problem is gone and not recurring. If it is animal stain, removing the scent by scrubbing with washing soda will prevent animals from thinking it is an approved toilet area.

 

[JohnD]

p.s.

I have also done some cement work on the drain where there were cracks in it.

if the gulley or pipe is cracked, broken and leaking, patching will not cure it. it needs digging out and replacing with new.

This is a common fault in older houses with salt-glazed clay gullies

it is not a difficult or complicated job, if you can find someone who owns a spade.

I won't mention that wire entanglements are also used to block the path of rats.

 

[tell80]

OP,
what do you mean by "cement work on drain" Pics please?
There should be a Bell Cast at the very bottom of the render. A bell cast will throw water away from the wall.
There's green mould/algae on the wall - perhaps from water running down and soaking in?
The DPC can be seen, & appears to be working.

Perhaps the cavity is blocked, and bridging the inner skin of brickwork DPC?
Or any damp CWI could be doing the same?
The metal bits of the gripper have rusted.
Is the wall decoration just above the skirting free from possible marks? House sellers can paint out damp signs for a few months?

 

[Marky123]

Thanks for all your responses. Where the floorboards have water staining, they are bone dry now and there are no marks on the underlay. I know this carpet was put down at least 6 years ago so perhaps it is historical. I feel it was probably a flash flood from several years back and the water was standing against this wall for a bit. I have purchased some air brick seals to put up and take down in severe weather conditions. We are due to get a new drive put in and I have asked the contractor to try and get the drive/path to slope away from the house.
Other than that, I guess I am going to have to wait and see what happens in severe weather conditions and try and put it out of my mind until then unless anyone has any other ideas.