Farmhouse Flooring

[Anonymous]

I am seriously considering buying an 18th Century farm house that is a grade II listed building. All of my previous properties have been Victorian and so this is something of an unknown quantity for me.
I am trying to find out what can be done about the seriously uneven floors on the 1st and 2nd floors, not from a listed building point of view but from a structural point of view. The ceilings have original exposed beams which I assume are supporting the floors above, however the floors are very uneven and would need some remedial work.
If this was an issue on the ground floor, I would use some type of levelling screed but as it is on upper floors, I am unsure where to start.
Any advice will be gratefully received.
Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I'd start with advice from the Conservation Officer - it may not be a simple matter to do anything as this is a listed building. You may need LBC.
I assume that the floors are wood, or are they lime ash?

 

[Anonymous]

We have uneven flooring upstairs in our property....wouldn't be without it, highly amusing at the end of an evening, esp the wooden boards, at least they slope towards the bedroom & not away otherwise would never get there some evenings. In all seriousness though, its these type of features that made us fall in love with our home & you do get used to them, if the floor is just uneven then I personally wouldn't see that as off-putting, just character.

 

[Anonymous]

They appear to be lime ash, I have now had an offer from the CO to meet me at the property and take a look. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that the character of uneven flooring is really appealing, I just worry about the structural side of it, I'm sure a survey will put my mind to rest on that though!
Thanks for the advise, it's certainly helped me to think of things in a more positive light!

 

[Anonymous]

Lime ash can be repaired and even replaced (the Nat Trust has just done this in one major house) but if at all possible do keep the original and treat with care - these are rare and interesting - and fairly fire resistant too,

SPAB has a leaflet on them it may be worth sending for. Biff's site has info too - via the Tithe Farm oak works part of his site (his windows gallery is fun too!).


http://www.spab

 

[Anonymous]

My other half has the view that the perfect house in the perfect village has a pub near enough to walk to but not near enough for any noise to be a nuisance. As well as a range of real beer it should be up a slight incline on the way to work up a thirst and therefore downhill to roll easily home.

I need to ask him his views on which way floors should slope for bedroom accesss...

 

[Anonymous]

The flooring is not the structure. If you are worried about structure get a structural engineer involved. Do not attempt to straighten out a deformed floor. It will only give you headaches and costs.