Has anyone had a damp proof course put into a utility room?

[MuminPinny]

I'm gutting my utility room which is the original one built into the back of my Victorian terraced house. There is no damp proof course and although there isn't a major damp problem there is a low damp reading on the walls and floor. Before I get a nice new floor (probably Karndean) and base units I would like to make sure no damp is coming up. A preservation specialist has suggested getting mastick asphalt laid over the floor and a chemical damp proof course in the walls. Has anyone else had this done or anything better? Also how much approx should this cost? I'm waiting for the costing although specialist muttered something about £600 + vat for chemical damp proof course and between £1000 and £2000 + vat for mastick asphalt on the floor. The room is approx 4.2 metres long by 2.4m wide at widest. Thanks.

Sorry, should have said utility room is built onto the back of the house not into it! Also utility room has concrete floor. The rest of the house has wooden floorboards and space with ventilation underneath so no need for damp proof course in the rest of the house . Thanks

We paid about £2300 including replastering to ceiling height for -living room, dining room, hall and breakfast room. (This was for a Chemical DPC) We didn't have the utility room done, as like you it is built onto the back of a Victorian terrace, it was done many decades ago and is no where close to meeting current building regs in terms of the walls, roof etc so there didn't seem much point. I tend to think of it as an outhouse more than part of the house.

Personally if the damp isn't causing a problem or any visible signs and is just giving a low meter reading then I wouldn't bother, as older building do have a higher level of damp naturally. We only had our low level damp treated as we were selling, it never caused any issus with deterioration to the timber floor, building or decoration. You can get damp proof underlay which might be a good idea before fitting a new floor and units, but I wouldn't go any further than this. Someone with more knowlege may correct me though!

Thanks very much. It sounds like our quote may be a bit pricey so I'm going to get another company out for a second quote. For 10 years we've taken the approach that the damp was at an ok level and the utility was just an outhouse type room like yours. Then we took up the old vinyl floor covering which was falling apart and the damp musty smell was hideous. After a week or two of no floor covering the concrete seemed to breathe and dry out but we think that we have to do something to the floor if we want any floor covering to go down again except possibly unsealed quarry tiles which might breathe a bit but aren't really what we want. I was also hoping that a revamped utility room with matching floor, similar units and door open to the kitchen might make our kitchen feel a bit bigger - maybe wishful thinking! Designing what goes in the room is so much more interesting that the damp proof course element!

I'm sure it'll be lovely! Does sound a little pricey though, so if you definitely want it done I'd try a few more quotes. Ours ranged from £1800-3500 so it definitely depends who you go with. Make sure whoever does it provides a guarantee on the work.

Low readings on a meter don't really give a full picture.

If its coming through the floor it might be that the concrete floor hasn't been installed correctly (ie no membrane). Or it could mean a leaky pipe underneath. You are better to treat the source of the problem, rather than just masking it- a chemical injection isn't likely to do much to be honest.

There is lots online about older buildings and damp and the myths around this- I'd have a look before spending lots of money.

Have a look at UK damp website it has a similar message to what Olivia is saying. Having had a damp proof course fitted I'd agree that finding and treating the cause is a better option if possible (and according to them normall cheaper) - but you do have to pay them for the initial survey.

Thanks both of you. I think I've read so much stuff on the internet about old buildings and damp that I'm now going round in circles and still not sure what to do! I am certain that there is no damp proof course under the cement and that is the cause of the damp. There aren't any pipes under the floor and the only drain goes outside and isn't leaking. The utility room is part of the original 1886 house and I don't think there would have been any requirement here in Scotland then for a scullery type room to have anything to protect against damp except for rendering the lower half of the internal walls and the outside too. I've been told that the render is holding up well and taking it off might weaken the walls and give us new problems. I'm concerned that if we damp proof the floor maybe the damp which is currently in the floor might be forced into the walls and make them worse and it's difficult to do much to the old walls without major work and expense which I don't think is worth it for a utility room. However, I think we have to do something with the concrete floor so that we can put down a new floor on top and avoid the damp, mould and musty smell we had when we took the old vinyl floor up a year ago. A friend today told me her DIY DH had put a layer of waterproof cement on top of their similar room. Have you heard of this being any good? The damp specialist said that we didn't need to dig up the concrete to lay a damp proof course as mastic asphalt on top would do the job just as well with a lot less mess and hassle. I'd love to hear if anyone else has had mastic asphalt laid. Sorry this is a bit long!

I know, its so confusing and everyone has a different opinion! How about something like - www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/accessories/48/quickstep_damp_proof_membrane_screen?adtype=pla&keyword=&gclid=CKbbqt3KrboCFS_KtAod5wcAlA ?

Or try googling for an independant damp specialist. I did this an emailed him just asking if he he offer any advice and he responded with some helpufl info.

Thanks SadPander - something like that is probably worth considering especially at that price. I may also contact an independent damp specialist, as you suggest, depending on how things go with the preservation company coming out to look at the end of the week.