It is desired to overcome dampness in the walls of a rather old house which has no damp course and whose basement floor; 5 ft. below the level of the street, is paved with slate 2 in. thick. A damp-proof course should be inserted about 6 in. above the floor level. The flooring should be taken up and about 5 in. of earth excavated. On the new level a bed of concrete about ii in. thick (say, in the proportions of 6 to 1) should be laid, and this should be covered with Am. of natural rock asphalt, which should be carried up the walls as a skirting to the level of the damp-proof course. On this the flooring of slate slabs may be relaid; or, if preferred, the excavation may be only 2 1/2in., the concrete laid, and the asphalt used as the finished floor. If the floors were of timber they should be taken up, the earth excavated to the level of the footings, a similar bed of concrete and asphalt with asphalt skirtings laid, the space below the boards thoroughly ventilated, and the wooden floor refixed, care being taken not to injure the asphalt skirting.

This method is somewhat expensive, but is effectual if the work is properly done.