Building advice

[gingerstu]

Hello all fellow DIY'ers.

At the moment I am sorting out some damp problems in the lounge and dining room of my new house. Part of the process is to lift all of the floor boards and inspect the wall plates and joists for signs of damp/rot.

I have to replace a couple of the wall plates as they are rotten through and have been advised that a damp proof membrane should be placed in between the sleeper wall and the new wall plate.

My question is...

Once the DP Membrane is in place, how do I then fix the wall plate to the sleeper wall. I assume that this has to be done otherwise the wall plate will just move around. Any tips, advice etc would be appreciated.

TIA

Stu

[Wacker]

No you don't fix the wall plate down into the wall it just gets bedded on with compo and fixed with the joists (clips or tosh nailed), if it was a wall plate for a roof it would be fixed to the wall with bat straps before plastering.

[gingerstu]

This is going to sound really thick... What compo?!!! And can I buy it from Travis Perkins or the like?]

Stu

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by gingerstu

This is going to sound really thick... What compo?!!! And can I buy it from Travis Perkins or the like?]

Stu

muck, mortar, sand cement mix,

Mark Chase is the man to ask, or that dodgy guy Howard the diving dude(who will try and tarmac the floor for you. ;-)

[gingerstu]

thanks guys.

[laterontoday]

Use some galvaised metal straps ( can buy them at wickes they are about 30mm wide , you will need to cut them down as they will be about 1m - 1.5m long, to tie the plate down as well as bedding it on a bed of mortar with the dpc under it of course. You can then clip or nail the new joists to the plate. One thing as well is to use tanalised ( treated) timber to reduce the risk of problems in the future. Also make sure the floor void is ventilated at front and rear with air bricks otherwise you run the risk of rot developing again. Good cross ventilation to the floor void is just as important as the dpc.

Any other questions please just ask.

[Diving Dude]

If you want any advice ring my mobile number which is in my profile.

[Neil M]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

If you want any advice ring my mobile number which is in my profile.

watch out though.... its a premium rate number

[Okeanos]

If you were in Cornwall I could get you a good deal on building materials.

Treviscoe Builders Merchant - my day job.

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by Neil M

watch out though.... its a premium rate number

yeah and the automated response goes - Hi welcome to Pikey diver advice line. for liberating lead press 1, for general tarmac advice press 2, for selling heather press 3 for selling pegs press 4, for caravan advice press 5 , for all other pikey advice press 6.

Sorry dude couldn't resist must have had too much coffee this morning already.