Floor support in storm door floor

[craigb]

Hi

We have a 1903 sandstone semi in Glasgow. The floor in the porch area between the main front door and internal front door is tiled in classic Edwardian geometric style. The floor recently gave way with a tile pushing through to the void below exposing the gap that runs through the length of the house for air flow.

What is concerning is that it appears this floor has been loads on a very thin concrete base on top of rubble. There are no apparent joists to support this area of floor. Is this common in floors of this age. The area is around 1m x 1m

I have someone coming out to look at it this week but interested to hear your thoughts. The floor visibly moves now in the area where the tile fell through if pressure is applied. Worried the whole floor will give way!

Thanks for your time

 

[Cubist]

Hi CraigB,
If you could upload some photos of the porch floor from above and below that may help some of us to offer an opinion. That said I would consider having no support under a one metre square suspended floor of any kind to be very unusual and highly dangerous. I would get some planks and props under it asap.

Cheers,
Cubist

 

[88v8]

What is concerning is that it appears this floor has been laid on a very thin concrete base on top of rubble.

Hello and welcome.

The building trade is famous for botching, perhaps this is a Period example. After all, rubble is cheaper than concrete. Or maybe someone has been in there laying pipes or the like, and messed it up.
That said, it's lasted 115 years.

I suspect it's a very localised collapse.
But if there is sufficient clearance under the door, you could cut a piece of 3/4" ply or even 1/2" ply, and put it over the whole porch floor. That will take care of any safety concerns.

The question will be how to repair it without destroying the tiles. The entire floor may need to be dug out and replaced with a better quality of rubble. Bit of a pain what with Christmas n'all.

At least in England, these tiles were generally laid in a thin bed of cement and grouted with cement. Getting the cement off without busting the tiles can be a challenge. If you look for tiling specialists I'm sure somewhere the size of Glasgow you will find people who know how to save and relay them.

Ivor