We live in a "between the wars" semi, which is of a similar layout to thousands across the country
The front door is an arch, and, like many houses in our road, has been converted from a porch affair where the actual door is about three feet into the house, to a flush with the front wall set up, effectively moving what was the outside porch into being part of the inside hallway
Anyway, like a lot of things on the house that were done before we bought it, the job seems to have been bodged a bit.
The "outside" bit seems to have been covered in concrete to lift it up to meet the existing wooden floor inside (well, I say existing, but when we moved in ten years ago it was riddled with rot so we replaced it). Anyway, the problem is that the concrete seems to be about an inch higher than the floorboards.... We've put up with this since we replaced the floor, as we've had it covered with a thick carpet atop a thick underlay, which has largely hidden it. However, we're now pondering on laminate, and no way this will work over two levels. We could raise the floorboard level, but we'd rather lower the concrete
So, what's worrying us is, if we dig it out, what happens about a damp course? It probably has a rubbish one, if it has one at all, but guessing that, as originally the area was outdoors, it wouldn't have had one when the house was built?
If we dig down, with a view to replacing the concrete, how easy would it be to reinstate a damp course, and would it need to be tied in to the wall's course?
Any advice appreciated!
The front door is an arch, and, like many houses in our road, has been converted from a porch affair where the actual door is about three feet into the house, to a flush with the front wall set up, effectively moving what was the outside porch into being part of the inside hallway
Anyway, like a lot of things on the house that were done before we bought it, the job seems to have been bodged a bit.
The "outside" bit seems to have been covered in concrete to lift it up to meet the existing wooden floor inside (well, I say existing, but when we moved in ten years ago it was riddled with rot so we replaced it). Anyway, the problem is that the concrete seems to be about an inch higher than the floorboards.... We've put up with this since we replaced the floor, as we've had it covered with a thick carpet atop a thick underlay, which has largely hidden it. However, we're now pondering on laminate, and no way this will work over two levels. We could raise the floorboard level, but we'd rather lower the concreteSo, what's worrying us is, if we dig it out, what happens about a damp course? It probably has a rubbish one, if it has one at all, but guessing that, as originally the area was outdoors, it wouldn't have had one when the house was built?
If we dig down, with a view to replacing the concrete, how easy would it be to reinstate a damp course, and would it need to be tied in to the wall's course?
Any advice appreciated!
)
