From Roman floors to basements in Venice, a look at all floor types from suspended to solid and how they fail. Includes an in-depth look at the best way to keep basements dry, with an emphasis on managing damp, rather than ‘curing’ it.















DVD Topics:

1. The floors of the roman empire
  A visit to Hadrian’s wall to look at solid and suspended Roman floors
 
2. Blocking the flow 1 
  Timber suspended floor problems – importance of ventilation
  Blocked vents – example of extreme dry rot fungus
 
3. Blocking the flow 2
  Under-floor rubble
  Vapour transmission
 
4. Lateral penetration
  Problems when moisture from high ground levels enters the floor
 
5. Under pressure
  Underfloor leaks
 
6. The hearth of the problem
  Hearth slabs – no DPC
  Water leaks against hearth appearing as rising damp
 
7. Battens and boards
  Underfloor leaks
 
8. Solid suspended floors
  Carbonation of concrete
 
9. Hong Kong restoration
  Two case studies from Hong Kong of concrete carbonation and a raised solid floor
 
10. Measuring damp in solid floors
  Using a hydrostick in a humidity box
  Importance of equilibrium relative humidity
 
11. When is a floor a roof?
  Case study of a floor slab which became an exterior walkway over a basement
 
12. Solid floors - Case 1
  Failure of floor slab leading to condensation
 
13. Solid floors – Case 2
  New concrete floor suffers from high ground levels
  Fundamental problems with fitting concrete floors
  Replacing solid floors with suspended floors
 
14. Going underground
  Building basements
  BS8102 – guidance on water tables
  How not to waterproof a basement – case study
 
15. Management options
  Brief overview of options for waterproofing below-ground
  Cementitious systems
  Ashphaltic systems
  Bund walls
  Drained cavity wall systems
 
16. Drained cavity close-up
  In-depth look at drained cavity wall systems in action
  Interview with Brian Davison – Director, Delta Membrane Systems Ltd.
 
17. The Crypt of San Marco
  Venice - The Crypt of San Marco Basilica
  Attempts to preserve basement crypt below water level
  Interview with Architect Ettore Vio 
 
Bonus Section 
  The Psychrometric Chart