18C cellar tidy up

[Kathy]

Hi,
Our 18C cellar has not been used for 50 years when part of the house demolished and the only access to it was via a window. We have converted the window to a door with LBC and now that we can get down there would like to clean it up. It has a well, we are near a river, the water table is high, there is efflorescence on some of the walls below ground level and floor is always damp - so we don't plan on making it habitable, just improving the appearance of the walls and floor as much as possible. This is not a DIY project for us but some advice before we approach a builder would be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[Lime]

Brush down the walls to remove dust and debris.
Then use what is on the walls already, traditional whitewash.
Google "whitewash recipe" and you will see it is a simple mixture of lime and water with a bit of salt added.
Lime is an excellent material to use on damp walls because it allows the walls to freely breath and dry out and it is an insect repellent too.
The only downside is that the lime can rub off but I have never found that to be too much of a problem.

DON'T be tempted to use paint of any sort, even if it claims it is permeable or allows substrates to breath, it won't last and will cause nothing but trouble in the future.

 

[Flyfisher]

Agreed.

The only other thing I'd add is to quickly check for any loose bricks or pointing (although it looks to be in good condition from the photos) and perhaps think about some ventilation if possible to reduce the inevitable humidity.

Oh, and don't let any modern paint anywhere near it, no matter what a builder might say. I know Lime already said that but it's so important it bears repeating!

 

[MatthewC]

What's the ventilation like now? That would help.

Don't let anyone do tanking - that will wreck it as well.

 

[Kathy]

Ventilation poor. Only a coal chute and no other possible opening. But no plans to make it habitable, just clean it up. No tanking!

I have a question re the floor. It is red tile in good nick but much is covered in a thin layer of muck that is rock hard (probably result of periodic rising water table over years and/or the well overflowing...who knows?). I've tried scraping with a chisel, also soaking with vinegar. No luck. Could a professional use something stronger (hydrochloric acid)? Or could a power washer work? Only problem there is no way to get rid of the water. Do pros have a vacuum attachment? Lifting tiles and turning them over is not an option.

 

[Flyfisher]

Might be worth trying some brick acid (available at most builders merchants) or Spirits of Salts (basically a stronger version of brick acid). A pressure washer might work and there are attachments that allow them to be used in conjunction with a 'wet & dry' vacuum to remove the water and debris, but it's almost impossible to know how successful either method would be without trying them on a small sample. In this respect, testing a small area with brick acid would be the quickest and easiest, unless you already have ready access to a suitable pressure washer set up.

 

[88v8]

Hello and welcome.

What do you want a builder to do? If it's just cleaning down and limewashng, you can do that.... builders tend to want to set about applying modern/inappropriate methods to shut damp out.

In our damps C17 cellar we have a sump pump to deal with water ingress, and a dehumidifier which is on 24/7. Ebac 2000 Series.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ebac-Dehumidifier-/282503630378?hash=item41c6874e2a:g:I1MAAOSwZKBZL7Xr
It reduces the RH by about ten points. Worth considering.

What RH do you have down there?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amir-Temperature-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Greenhouse/dp/B01J39SLTU/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_200_bs_t_2/262-9179634-7443962?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XWXW60PSZ3FBHQXTN8TJ

If it's very damp, anything you store will grow mould.

Ivor

 

[worms]

Just a thought, but if Kathy was to start chucking brick acid around, in a place where it can't be easily flushed out with lots of water and where the air can't be properly vented, she might end up with a few extra problems. Best to plan for this in advance, somehow. Perhaps having the lime for the lime wash on hand and using some to neutralise the acid after it has done its stuff and rig up some forced ventilation to flush out any chlorine gas given off.

Definitely still a DIY job, though!

 

[JanJonWestWales]

Hi we had a similar 18c basement, which was V V Damp (a small stream ran through it)
We were lucky though as we had a door to the outside and a drain just outside the door, so were able to dig a trench and lay perforated piping to let the stream run out.
We also had a small window to the front (south facing) - into which I fitted a solar powered extractor fan.
However we still lime rendered / washed all the walls
Relaid the original cobbles into NHL5 floor
...and it is dry (ish)

So my advice would be (as always) - let it breath, and get some air circulating

http://blaencwmbychan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/back-to-basement.html

 

[Lime]

With regard to the floor remove any loose material then scrub or mop it with water on a regular basis.
the tiles will always be changing in appearance, that is part of their charm, and no amount of treatment will improve them for long.
If you do use brick acid it needs to be done on a one tile at a time basis but don't expect miracles. You are more likely to change one type of tile disfigurement for another.
Some acids are stronger than others. You may encounter fuming hydrochloric acid and that must not be opened in an unventilated room.
The best cleaner/ polisher of old tiles is simple.
They need to be walked on regularly.

As far as ventilation is concerned, fit a small xpelair (or similar) in the coal chute and ventilation will improve.