water issues

[hkeval]

Hi everyone,
some help is required here and would be appreciated: victorian 2up, 2 down semi. Recently while other work was being carried out, we found a pool of water, 6 inches deep sitting underneath one room. Pumped it out, it came back. No leak from the mains, none that we can tell from the house plumbing, water table although prone to being high is not expected to be at this time. No issues with other rooms. There is a layer of concrete where there should just be earth. Water has already rotted some joists, though is not rising - just sitting there. Any help anyone?
In anticipation, a slightly worried man.

 

[Nemesis]

To clarify - the area under the floorboards, where earth is normally, has been concreted over?

 

[MdB]

Photos?

 

[DaveBrigg]

Our village hall had a similar problem, with water collecting in the air ducts beneath the floor (part of the heating system). The cause was almost certainly a downpipe from the gutter which had been attatched to the drain using a black binliner, rather than the more traditional fittings and sealant. If your problem is is a room with a rainwater drain outside, particularly if it is original, that might be worth checking.

 

[hkeval]

thanks everyone for you comments and suggestions. Under the floor, where there would normally be earth has a thin layer of concrete - this seems to be stopping the water from draining away. We had the drains around the outside checked, nothing obvious there. There is a suggestion that we have a submsersible pump put in a 50 gallon bin of some sort, then a water proof membrane, on top of which new joists and flooring would go. Any experience of these?

thanks in advance, and sorry about the delay in posting!

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

You really need to identify the source of this water. If it's a supply or drain leak, then that's fixable. If it's groundwater then you've got more of a problem. How fast is it flowing? Wheny ou've pumped it dry can you see where it's coming in (from below, through walls? ) How does the land lie around your house - level, slope, marsh , rock , clay?
Sound like a problem that needs lots of investigation before possibly drastic and expensive action.

 

[hkeval]

hi everyone,
quick update - the floors up now - and the water has drained away, more or less dry as a bone. it seems that the air bricks were put in very badly, and its very very likely the water was seeping in around and through this area - especially given that the pathway running parallel is 9 inches higher - the water had to go somewhere i suppose. Just in the process of having it seen to, and i dont think a pump is going to be required. Will keep you posted...
cheers!