FLOOR IDEAS WELCOME!!! *PIC*

[Anonymous]

I would like some ideas as how to finish where my timber floor meets my flint/brick wall.

The floor joists were originally cut into the brick wall just below the sole plate but now they are suported on a heavy duty timber structure from below in the cellar.

we will lay a new solid wood floor over these joists we will need to butt the edges of the planks against the flint -brick wall. The sole plate is about 1ft higher than the floor level so should I plaster down to the top of the wall over the main lath and plaster wall or take it all the way down to the floor as we have one hell of a draught from a 1 inch gap between the floor and the wall down to the cellar at the moment.

I removed a 70s job of conc and slate as it was trapping the damp in the edge of the original floor and caused it to rot, I am worried about the wood against the brick is this going to transfer moisture into my new wood floor? or am i just panicing.

Should I use some type of skirting board fixed to the brick with a 10mm gap between the board and wall or plaster straight down to the floor and fix a skirting board to that?

sorry about the iffy picture!!

 

[Anonymous]

Don't butt the planks up to the wall whatever you do, wood boards need a gap to expand and contract - usually about 1cm (or 1/2") is left. Your floor will buckle and rise with different weather conditions and completely ruin it if you don't.

 

[Anonymous]

"I am worried about the wood against the brick is this going to transfer moisture into my new wood floor? or am i just panicing. "

It will transfer a bit of moisture to the floor and it might decay it around the edges. And yes, you are panicing. <IMG SRC="http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/discussing/smileys/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">

At worst you'll get a decayed fringe around the perimeter wher water moves into the edge, it decays, the decayed wood can not take up water from the wall, and the wood dries out again.

Happens all the time in church bell towers.

"Should I use some type of skirting board fixed to the brick with a 10mm gap between the board and wall or plaster straight down to the floor and fix a skirting board to that?"

Leave a 10mm gap between the boards and wall. Plaster to within skirting-hiding-distance of the boards. Fit skirting to plaster.

Matt Green