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Carpentry & Joinery

Mouldy joists, possibly from dog urine on floorboards

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.14 PM

Hello. I have just bought a house which is in need of rennovation. There are quite a few floorboards which the previous owner's dog must have urinated on (inferring from the general smell!). The floorboards are still damp (despite the house being empty for months). I have read about different techniques of cleaning the floorboards, but have decided to just replace them to be safe. My question is around the joists underneath the floorboards. In some areas there is some form of mould or mildew growing. See picture using the link below. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwguu96ug0LLZF9mZ3BTdkJXa3M/edit?usp=docslist_api When replacing the floorboards, do I need to treat the joists in anyway, and with what? thanks. Update: here is an example of above and below the floorboard. It is in the middle of the house. the damp proof membrane looks to be in the right place. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwguu96ug0LLT3RwQkp0RzlacWM/edit?usp=docslist_api https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwguu96ug0LLZmp4dVEtTlBoejNGdVlCY1FJb195cXZUcmZZ/edit?usp=docslist_api

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1 Answer

Anonymous user

hi. When i was reading this i was guessing it was at the edge of the floor and as i clicked the link i was right. This looks like a damp problem as its still wet. Isit just there or isit in the middle of the room any where? As that joist is sitting on the inner course of bricks the moisture has penetrated through the render or pointing is coming through the house here. If you go outside the house roughly work out where this is and look at the pointing or knock on the render to listen if its blown or not. There may be a mortar plinth at the bottom that needs pointing and is causing the damp to rise through the cavity in the wall. hope this helps, David @ Dms Property solutions

Answered29 January 2015