Above our cellar, which is covered with 70cm (28 inches) of soil, the kitchen wall is damp. When we excavated, we found that there is no insulation (only a tar coating on the cellar concrete and on the wall) and no drainage installed. What should we do?
How far does the soil need to be removed, and how wide should the trench be – at least that is something we can do ourselves. Do we need a general construction company, a roofer, or a sheet metal worker? We want to properly install perimeter insulation. Since the kitchen is partially below ground level, the walls are also cold. Moisture behind the cellar should be able to drain away. How is proper insulation done when you need to protect a kind of "basin" (walls on two sides) correctly?
The part of the cellar below ground is a fallout shelter; the air inside is humid, but the concrete shows no signs of condensation. The part of the cellar under the kitchen is also structurally fine regarding the walls – only the wall above ground between the two cellars is affected. So far, nothing is visible on the outside (no flaking plaster), but what lies underground apparently allows moisture to pass inward – the kitchen cabinets smell of mold, salt gets instantly soaking wet, and sugar quickly hardens like stone.
The house is 20 years old, located on a hillside in Ticino, possibly with some water pressure from the slope. And as mentioned, there is no drainage. Would a Minergie specialist be suitable for this, or rather a company like Sica-Bau?
How far does the soil need to be removed, and how wide should the trench be – at least that is something we can do ourselves. Do we need a general construction company, a roofer, or a sheet metal worker? We want to properly install perimeter insulation. Since the kitchen is partially below ground level, the walls are also cold. Moisture behind the cellar should be able to drain away. How is proper insulation done when you need to protect a kind of "basin" (walls on two sides) correctly?
The part of the cellar below ground is a fallout shelter; the air inside is humid, but the concrete shows no signs of condensation. The part of the cellar under the kitchen is also structurally fine regarding the walls – only the wall above ground between the two cellars is affected. So far, nothing is visible on the outside (no flaking plaster), but what lies underground apparently allows moisture to pass inward – the kitchen cabinets smell of mold, salt gets instantly soaking wet, and sugar quickly hardens like stone.
The house is 20 years old, located on a hillside in Ticino, possibly with some water pressure from the slope. And as mentioned, there is no drainage. Would a Minergie specialist be suitable for this, or rather a company like Sica-Bau?
Hello, a friend of mine had a similar experience. At first, good advice was hard to find, but then another acquaintance recommended the company Rebaxit AG (I believe that was the name). Since then, he has been worry-free. I haven’t heard anything negative since. They completed the work quickly and professionally.
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Annegret-118 Mar 2015 16:08Hello,
I find this defect quite serious. Well, the house is 20 years old, and at that time it might not have been a requirement. Or they simply saved money. In any case, have this damage repaired by a professional company.
Best regards
I find this defect quite serious. Well, the house is 20 years old, and at that time it might not have been a requirement. Or they simply saved money. In any case, have this damage repaired by a professional company.
Best regards
I don’t think this has anything to do with the age of the house. Twenty years is not old for a house. The work simply wasn’t done properly. It’s impossible to complete this kind of work alone. Just find a professional company in the area, invite them over, and discuss everything. I would also arrange for three companies to provide quotes one after the other and then compare the estimates.
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