13th December 2011 Out of sight.................out of mind!

Hi everyone.  Hope you haven't been hanging out for my next blog!! 

Don't let your sub floor be a case of 'Out of sight and out of mind'!!

Generally the sub floor area of a house is out of sight and out of mind!  I cannot emphasis enough how important it is to keep a check on this area.  Make sure the ground is dry and there are no musty odours caused by dampness. Check that sub floor vents are clear - yes, they do serve a purpose and that is to facilitate ventilation under your house. Don't obstruct them by building up garden beds over them or keeping the bbq in front them.

Why is it so important to keep the subfloor dry? Well, house stumps can become unstable if they are sitting in damp ground  and will gradually rot if  they are timber.  Ultimately this undermines the structural integrity of the house. You may notice floors drop slightly in some areas or doors that swing by themselves. Dampness in brickwork causes efflorescence to occur, that is, salty deposits brought to the surface of the brickwork. You may not consider this an attractive look.  A damp subfloor is an ideal environment for termites.  And clear out old or left over building materials. Your subfloor is not a substitute for the tip!!