Soil under floor space actually on the joists - Help

[ojnet]

Hi all

I have a Flat (ground floor) its a converted ex shop, 75% of the floor is concrete and I have small areas of floorboards.

I started having a roller coaster flooring issue in my passageway, I initially thought this was just warped tounge and grove (covering the passageway), so I decided to lift the tounge and grove today, it seems the problem is actually a chipboard panel someone had fitted in the past in place of floorboards under the Tounge & Groove.
This chipboard panel had rotted and was swelling.
I have torn a section of the chipboard away and to my surprise the soil level below is about 3"-4" (yes inches) below the floorboards it looks as though even the joists are partly covered in soil.

Should I dig this deeper prior to fitting new floorboards?

If so to what depth?

Would I be right to assume whom ever layed the concrete floor has just shifted excess soil to another location under the floor?.

Or am I on the wrong track

Heeeelp!!!

Many thanks in advance

Kevin (Portsmouth)

 

[big-all]

i would dig it out at least 18 inches to get it bellow the damp proof course

i would also be concerned that the joist may have been dammaged by the damp[from the earth]

 

[ojnet]

i would dig it out at least 18 inches to get it bellow the damp proof course

i would also be concerned that the joist may have been dammaged by the damp[from the earth]

The joists are damp but appear sound, Ironically part of this preparation (Tounge & Groove removal) is for a DPC course on my flat Beginning Thursday 9th)

Thanks for your advice - this soil issue is a total surprise to me, and I had no idea how deep is should be

Thanks again - appreciated

 

[big-all]

another point make shure the soil is below any air bricks to allow airflow

 

[ojnet]

another point make shure the soil is below any air bricks to allow airflow

DPC guys say that I need more

I will check out the levels

Thanks

Kevin

 

[JohnD]

You may have got a bodge job there - joists laid on ground, boards nailed onto them - joist not supported by sleeper walls. One of the easier ways would be to dig it out and lay a solid floor.

 

[Static]

Deja vu... cant be bothered to answer posts twice