Water under suspended floor

[Julietaeinin]

Help I recently bought a house with suspended floor and discovered a lot of rain water under it. Its all clay soul round here. Besides a submersible pump is there any other option? Can I tip a load of cement bags down there to soak it up? Any suggestions please?

 

[JohnD]

This is quite often caused by a broken drain close to the house.

Rain water is more hygienic than sewage.

Don't tip cement down there.

Walk round your house looking at the drainpipes and downpipes, and where they enter the ground, and any manholes. Photograph them please.

Leaks often cause wet patches on walls. Leaking gullies and drains tend to wash away the soil causing the gully and surrounding ground and paving to crack and collapse and sink down. You will often find mortar poultice round the drains showing past futile attempts to repair or hide the damage.

It is actually.ly quite a simple job to dig out broken drains. If you can use a spade to plant potatoes you can do it. Laying a new pipe is a small building job, or fairly straightforward DIY. It is not as difficult as you think, but easier in summer.

If you dig it out yourself you will save time and money

It might also be the drain of a nearby neighbour.

How old is your house?

Is it terraced?

 

[Julietaeinin]

Hi John, I think they were built in the 50's. Its a semi detached. I've not noticed any wet patches on walls or any cracks Its got block paving all around. Soon after I moved in I noticed the back garden flooded and sorted that out with putting drainage holes in. The front garden also flooded but since clearing the front its been fine. The only bit of a damp smell is in the cupboard under the stairs. Is any reputable builder able to sort it?

 

[JohnD]

It depends what the cause is, which we have not yet established. If you post the photos on here it will help.

How did you determine it is rainwater and not a leaking waterpipe?

Do not allow anyone who sells silicone injections near your house, they will not repair any fault.

 

[jj4091]

Hi John, I think they were built in the 50's. Its a semi detached. I've not noticed any wet patches on walls or any cracks Its got block paving all around. Soon after I moved in I noticed the back garden flooded and sorted that out with putting drainage holes in. The front garden also flooded but since clearing the front its been fine. The only bit of a damp smell is in the cupboard under the stairs. Is any reputable builder able to sort it?

A damp smel in a confined unventilated space is quite common. Ether fit vents in the top and bottom of the door or cut a srtip off both so that you have a gap on each, or a gap at the bottom and a vent at the top.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Help I recently bought a house with suspended floor and discovered a lot of rain water under it. Its all clay soul round here. Besides a submersible pump is there any other option? Can I tip a load of cement bags down there to soak it up? Any suggestions please?

Has a first step, have the water tested, to determine whether it is rain water, mains water, or sewage. Secondly, would be to dig a sump at the lowest point, and buy/hire a sump pump, to get the water out. Water under a suspended timber floor, is bad news, the high moisture levels, can rot the floor timbers. Finally, armed with knowledge of the type of water, you need to trace the source.

How deep is the water?

 

[Julietaeinin]

Hi, I had the sitting room laminate floor put down before Christmas and there was a hole in 1 of the original floorboards so out of curiosity the fitter lifted it and then saw all the water, theres no smell to the water, just a fair bit of it though. I had also noted there is no soakaway at the front of the house. It could be a broken pipe, I just assumed it was rain water with all the clay soil. Flooding in the back gardens seems to be every couple of houses

 

[JohnD]

No photos, then?

 

[Julietaeinin]

No unfortunately