Brick floor

[Bitstreams]

It must be Sunday - I always seem to do these things on Sundays.

This morning I removed a concrete step outside our back door. Underneath it was another, slightly smaller, concrete step. Under that was the remains of a large stone step (which looks rather nice now that I've scrubbed it). This showed that the floor level in the dining room was quite a bit higher than outside and there seemed to be a hard layer under the door frame that corresponded with the original step.

The floor in the dining room is a concrete screed and I've always assumed it was on top of earth (in fact, I'm sure that what several people have said it would be). But I was in Time Team mode this morning so I broke out my Bosch Breaker and dug trench 1 just next to the dining table.

And waddya know - 1.5" down I found what I think is a brick floor. Brick because the pieces are oblong and correspond in size almost exactly to the bricks that make the wall outside (8 3/4" x 4 1/4").

So, not flagstones, but worth revealing and using don't you think? I quite like them as they are but I'm sure I've read that you can clean and seal brick floors. Anyone done this?
Does the size of the bricks and the use of them help age the property? (always trying to age this place).


Simon

 

[Moo]

Ooh! What a lovely find! It's a good job you don't live near me, or I'd be round like a shot with my bolster and chisel.
They may not be bricks, as such - to me they look like oblong pamments.

You'll no doubt get a string of helpful (ie knowledgeable) comments quite soon, but my advice would be to carry on with the excavations as soon as possible; and while you're at it, have a go at what looks like really nasty cement render on that wall while you're at it.

 

[Moo]

PS
I've just read your thread on plastering; I do hope that what I called nasty cement render isn't, in fact, something much nicer that you've just put on with much loving care. If it is, I do apologise!

 

[JoceAndChris]

That's a wonderful find! Well done, definitely I'd use it.

I'd be scared of sealing because of sealing moisture in. People on the forum have in the past recommended testing a patch with an ecover scrub and then following with linseed oil.

Here's how mine looks with nothing at all excepting a weekly vaccuum: (think these bricks are original to the house which was built towards the end of the 18th C)

 

[Penners]

The size of the bricks could help to ascertain whether they are indeed bricks or, as Moo suggests, pamments. Initial visual impressions support Moo, I would say. They look a bit too wide for their length to be ordinary bricks (but that's an inexpert and subjective view).

I would certainly set about re-exposing them, but be aware that such exciting finds can sometimes be a snare and a delusion. I once exposed an area of lovely flagstones under a concrete floor and excitedly set about the floor with my bolster... only to find that the flagstones extended to about 15% of the floor area - the rest was just concrete.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Yup, pamments! Linseed oil would be fine. I think you can mix a bit of beeswax in as well, then that will build up to quite a nice hard shine in time. I have used traffic wax with considerable success ( remember Penners, in North Norfolk)

 

[Penners]

remember Penners, in North Norfolk

Ah yes - and did those feet, in ancient time, walk upon Joss's pamments....

 

[AMc]

You can also seal brick floors with hard waxoil for example Osmo polyx which seems to be working for us so far.