Advice on actions in an old basement

[Thomas_Blekinge]

Or a pump pit.

 

[Galten]

I dug a little in the sand and there is a pipe there with some kind of hatch

 

[Galten]

The walls are very rough. It wasn't fine concrete they used directly

 

[tobben87]

Then you have found a flushing well for the sewer.

 

[Galten]

What do you think is the best measure for the rough concrete walls? There are quite large stones in places and the wall is quite porous. It's easy to pick off pieces with your finger. Plaster with reinforcement?

 

[GoC]

https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/putsa-gammal-dalig-betong.216305/

 

[Galten]

Haven't gotten very far in the project, but at least the dehumidifier has been running constantly for about a week and I have 55% in the basement. Started at 85%.

Before there was a musty smell, but now it's absolutely horrible in the basement. It's never smelled this bad before.

At least I've chosen tiles and will order for the entire basement now. I'm thinking a slightly brown shade is better than gray. It gives a bit warmer tones.

https://www.bauhaus.se/pirite-gra-1

 

[GoC]

Wash the entire basement, walls, floors, and ceiling (if you have a concrete slab) with a really strong bleach solution that you spray on with a sprayer, let it sit for fifteen minutes, and then pressure wash. You will almost guaranteed get rid of the nasty smell. But use a breathing mask, as the chlorine creates a really pungent smell in the nose, probably not very good either.

 

[Galten]

Wash the entire basement, walls, floors, and ceiling (if you have a concrete structure) with a really strong chlorine solution that you spray on with a sprayer, let it sit for fifteen minutes, and then pressure wash.
You will almost certainly get rid of the bad smell. But use a respirator, there's a really strong smell from the chlorine, probably not very good either,

Oh, that sounds drastic! But it obviously needs to be disinfected. Possibly it smells more now when the dehumidifier heats up the basement and the moisture starts to migrate.

 

[GoC]

Wow, that sounds drastic! But it obviously needs to be disinfected. Possibly it smells more now that the dehumidifier is warming up the basement and the moisture is starting to move

It's worth the effort, and you get rid of all the old loose plaster and weathered concrete. I've cleaned my entire basement this way, definitely worth the effort.
Wash and vacuum up the muck with a wet vacuum cleaner.

 

[TRJBerg]

Haven't gotten very far in the project, but at least the dehumidifier has been running constantly for a week now, and I have 55% in the basement. Started at 85%.

There was a musty smell before, but now it's absolutely dreadful in the basement. It's never smelled this bad before.

At least I've chosen tiles and will order for the entire basement now. I'm thinking a slightly brown hue is better than gray. It gives a warmer tone.

[link]

Do you have traps in the floor drains? Do you have water in them or is it open to the sewer system?

 

[Galten]

Do you have water traps in the floor drains? Do you have water in them or is it open to the sewage system?

You were right, two of the water traps were dried out (the other three are used regularly). It wasn't too long ago that I added water to them, perhaps the dehumidifier has dried them out faster.

 

[TRJBerg]

You were right, two of the traps were dried out (the other three are used regularly). It wasn't that long ago that I dabbed water in them, maybe the dehumidifier has dried them out faster.

Suspected that with respect to the dehumidifier.

 

[Galten]

This is a trivial question, but what do you prepare first, the walls or the floor?

I am going to plaster some walls, while others will just be painted. The floor will be tiled. The ceiling is already painted white for some reason.

 

[claym]

This is a trivial question, but what do you prepare first, the walls or the floor?

I will plaster some walls, while others will just be painted. The floor will be tiles. The ceiling has already been painted white for some reason.

Good question! I wonder the same . If I had to guess: walls first, then floor. Or? It generally feels like a good strategy to renovate from top to bottom...