Basement Kitchen Damp Floor

[cm11cmg]

We've moved into an ~1900 Victorian terrace in the last month, and during the last few weeks I've taken off the kitchen kickboards to reveal what is a damp floor where the tiling doesn't extend to. Upon closer inspection the grout on half of the room is also discoloured which now I'm aware is likely due to the damp. As this is a basement kitchen, after some research I believe that either there is no DPM, or the DPM has failed. We were planning to put a cheap new kitchen in in the next month so obviously are quite concerned!

I've had a few damp inspectors (admittedly not independent) to come in and have a look and they came to the same conclusion. Their solution is to take up the entire floor and install a new DPM, new concrete floor, and then potentially a sump pump and drainage system around the kitchen perimeter.

Obviously this would come in at a huge cost (we've been quoted ~9k) and is something we can't afford at the moment, or likely for the next few years. I'm wondering whether there is another solution, such as letting the floor breathe. We're debating just putting in the new kitchen and seeing what happens - I believe the current one has been in for 10+ years and it's not in a bad state, but for other reasons needs replacing (oven needs replacing, countertops need replacing due to water damage from the sink as the tap is too short meaning water has been constantly sat on it) etc. Obviously this isn't the ideal solution but we only plan to stay in the house for around 5-7 years as it's our first home so quite a small property, and the cost of ripping out the floor and half the walls is something we won't see again.

Any help would be appreciated - I can give more details as needed.

 

[MatthewC]

Hi there, welcome. Your first post has slipped by unnoticed as first posts get moderated so appear lower down the forum.

In reply to your questions, the most important point is that all your damp inspectors, not being independent, will ALWAYS promote their product regardless of its suitability for your building. Secondly, as a basement room, your kitchen is likely to always be damp to an extent, even if tanked.

So, if you don't want to spend the money then I suggest that you try to maximise the damp resistance of any new kitchen by liberal use of a suitable water-repellent (many varieties availables) on any wood likely to get damp.

You could also try to minimise the damp. Have a look outside and check the toilet overflow, the rain water goods and the drains; these items will increase the dampness if they are not working properly. Then see if there are impermeable surfaces like paths which go up to the wall, or any surface drains that drain towards the house rather than away from it. As a terrace you don't have much control over the neighbours but you can also see if the same applies to them!

Finally, the kitchen needs to be ventilated - cooking gives off a lot of steam and it must be extracted rather than allowed to condense inside. Even a bare basement needs ventilation, but a kitchen even more so.

Dampness takes ages to dry out so then all you can do is to stand back and wait.

Matthew