Damp problem with shed. See below!?
Question:I have had a wooden shed built and it is on top of a concrete base. The problem is when it rains water runs down the outside of the shed and underneath it between the wood and the concrete. Thus it is always damp and the floor has mould and fungus growing on it. Is there any magic DIY stuff I can buy from say B&Q to fill in the gap between the wood and concrete and remove/treat the mould?
Answers:
OK, you know how not to do it. When I put my shed up(on a concrete base) I lined up bricks to take the bearers, then removed every other brick (creating gaps in the lines) Then, over the bricks I used a heavy polythene damp course, then the shed on top. You know, I dont have a damp problem.
Best thing you can do is to dismantle the shed, and start again, properly this time.
hi
go and buy foam in a can
go around the inside bottom plate and fill in the gap
then used used some bleach on the floor brush it in then used a hose to flush it out then squeegee.
wait till the foam cure before cleaning the floor with bleach
then install gutter and down spout to have water run away from the shed
BLEACH?!?!? Be very very very careful with bleach.. best to get some goggles for eye protecion, in case of splashing. Bleach will burn your eyes, possibly irrepairably if not washed in time should some get in them.
That will kill the mold. To keep the water out, try to divert it with a gutter or similar device.
Gutters work REAL well! Normal size looks too big on a small shed, so buy a plastic gutter and cut into 1/2 lengthwise. Use fittings to make go into a rainbarrell. I then run hose to gardens or our ponds. Works great!!
Not knowing how the shed is built, I'd first suggest putting a rain gutter on it to help take the water away from it. However, some sheds are not designed to have gutter put on them because most don't get gutters.
If you can't put gutters on it or if the gutters don't help, try this: Loosen up the bottom of the siding and slide some tin roof flashing (or fascia cover) behind the siding. Let the tin overlap the joint where the walls meet the cement base. This way as the water runs down the walls it won't be able to enter the shed and cause the problems you are having.
Another thing that could help would to add a roof vent to allow air to circulate in the shed just as you would do on a house. It will also help to keep the heat down during the summer.
Once you have the moisture stopped from coming in, then wash out your shed with bleach to kill the mold and fungus.
It may be suggested to caulk the inside of the shed where the walls and floor meet. This i snot a good idea because you will be trapping the moisture under your walls and that will cause them to rot out much faster than usual, If you were to do any caulking, it would be on the outside of the wall - then put the tin I suggested over the caulked joint.
I hope that this helps you with your question or at least gives you some more ideas.
i would empty the shed out,get a few boys round for a beer , tell them all to grab a corner each and while they raise it up a fraction slide under a few pieces of timber so the shed will rest on these and not directly on the concrete base? this will allow the rain to run away,and for air to circulate underneath? just surprised it wasn't done like this in the first place?
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