Cellars - Keeping them dry

[belsteph]

Hi,
Our house has cellars underneath, all the way round. Before paving the patio area we'd appreciate any advice on preventive measures to keep them dry. They are not exactly wet but some of the stone (sandstone mainly, 200 year old house) get's wet-often worse in summer than winter. We wondered if there was any preventive measures we should take before laying the pavers. I did think (perhaps hopefully) that paving itself may prevent some of the dampness as part of the back has concrete up to the wall and the cellar walls under tend not to get damp. Whereas those under the chipped area (soil under) tend to be the damp ones.
Do you think by paving up to the wall this problem will ease off or is it just something we should live with?
We've had the house for 3 years and wet walls is as bad as it's got, but there was a flood many years ago but then the whole village got it so not surprising I guess!
Any thoughts very welcome thank you.

[andpartington]

worse in summer might be condensation.
The only real way to make it dry is to have the whole thing tanked not easy or cheap!
andy

[Tony McC]

Get a cellar specialist or a structural surveyor to take a look and advise accordingly.

[belsteph]

thanks guys, we did have a structural surveyor look at the house before we bought it on the advice of the survey. He said "it's 200 year old and will be here long after us, what do they effin expect" So that was fine with us. Walls just occassionaly get damp really and moisture seeps through. I thought perhaps a condensation/humidity problem as they are lovely and cool but dry.
Thanks anyway guys, it's not bad enough to warrant tanking them I don't think!