Upgrading basement

[roger3007]

Apologies for the following covering a number of categories of entry. I'm thinking of trying to make more use of the cellar in my (old) house by installing the washing machine and dryer down there. I have a couple of questions:

1. The basement is mostly dry, except for one corner which has damp walls and floor. The floor is concrete and a bit uneven. I'm hoping to tile the floor - can anyone recommend something to put on the floor to level it off and give a solid base for tiling?

2. Is tiling over the damp bit likely to cause problems, for example could it cause the damp to rise further up the walls?

3. I have a water source in the cellar but the soil pipe is at head height, and from reading other posts I see that this could be a problem. There is a hole in the floor of the cellar, about 50cm by 50cm, about 50cm deep, could this be a soak away drain, and if so could I use it for the washing machine waste?

4. Woud the use of a washing machine and/or a dryer worsen damp problems in the cellar?

Thanks a lot in advance for any replies.

 

[roger3007]

Mistaken entry

 

[JohnD]

(3) a rotten idea - not only is it unsanitary, but the flow of water is likely to wash away the ground under the floor, and even the walls. A relation had very expensive subsidence and underpinning resulting from a bath drain discharging into the ground next to the house.