Winniefred
2021-10-09 11:06:00
- #1
It was similar with us. REH from 1921. The previous owner had nailed everything in one room shut with styrofoam and boards, of course there was mold underneath. We also removed plaster with efflorescence. In our house, there is screed on the floor in 2 rooms and tiles in 2 rooms (no mold or anything). We have moisture approximately in the first 50-70cm, which then stops. Our house had a horizontal barrier made of bitumen, which after 100 years is just crumbling away. You can also clearly see that the moisture comes from the surrounding soil. Our house is on a slope. In front, almost the entire basement is underground, at the back only a few centimeters.
So we: took everything out, boards etc., removed plaster, took down subsequently added walls. Mold was immediately eliminated. That was 4 years ago. We ventilate well, especially in winter. In summer, not during the day, too high humidity! I started regrouting and now in winter I want to begin applying new renovation plaster. In one room, I completely regrouted and then whitewashed the walls. For cost reasons, we initially decided against waterproofing. We would certainly have to excavate and seal again from the outside and then introduce a horizontal barrier. That costs a lot of money and we have been using the basement trouble-free for 4 years, with exactly the same requirements you have. We have a garden fridge down there, the washing machine, the dryer, workshop, also store supplies and such. If we eventually save enough money to repave outside, we would probably do that. Also then renew the exterior renovation plaster. So, for now we will apply renovation plaster inside and let it do its job and then see how things develop in a few years and what measures we take when.
If the house is 90 years old, I see no reason to panic. That is exactly the advantage of old buildings. They have been standing for a while. There is no reason why it should suddenly get worse. Rather, it will probably improve if you give the old lady some air with the teardown and good ventilation. Personally, I see no reason to take radical measures if you don’t even need a dry basement. These basements were intentionally designed as damp basements. Of course masonry does not get better from moisture, so it certainly does no harm to give the old lady somewhat drier feet. It does not have to be completely dry. I would not leave it like this forever though.
At least that's my amateur assessment ;).
So we: took everything out, boards etc., removed plaster, took down subsequently added walls. Mold was immediately eliminated. That was 4 years ago. We ventilate well, especially in winter. In summer, not during the day, too high humidity! I started regrouting and now in winter I want to begin applying new renovation plaster. In one room, I completely regrouted and then whitewashed the walls. For cost reasons, we initially decided against waterproofing. We would certainly have to excavate and seal again from the outside and then introduce a horizontal barrier. That costs a lot of money and we have been using the basement trouble-free for 4 years, with exactly the same requirements you have. We have a garden fridge down there, the washing machine, the dryer, workshop, also store supplies and such. If we eventually save enough money to repave outside, we would probably do that. Also then renew the exterior renovation plaster. So, for now we will apply renovation plaster inside and let it do its job and then see how things develop in a few years and what measures we take when.
If the house is 90 years old, I see no reason to panic. That is exactly the advantage of old buildings. They have been standing for a while. There is no reason why it should suddenly get worse. Rather, it will probably improve if you give the old lady some air with the teardown and good ventilation. Personally, I see no reason to take radical measures if you don’t even need a dry basement. These basements were intentionally designed as damp basements. Of course masonry does not get better from moisture, so it certainly does no harm to give the old lady somewhat drier feet. It does not have to be completely dry. I would not leave it like this forever though.
At least that's my amateur assessment ;).