Hello people. Have recently started work on a old stone cottage so that we can get it liveable in again (has hardly been modernised which is nice, but has also fallen into disrepair). Would be ever so grateful for advice on the the following:
1. We are installing two small Stockton multifuel stoves one upstairs and one downstairs. In both cases the original stone hearth is FLUSH with the existing floor level (downstairs the stone hearth is surrounded by the original stone flag floor, upstairs there is a large stone hearth which extends at least 18 inches into the room thereby giving plenty of clearance between the fireplace and the original wood floorboards). We have been told by the person who will fit the chimney liners that because of building regs we need to install NEW HEARTHS WHICH ARE RAISED UP above the level of the floor. The reason for this is to stop someone from laying carpet too close to the stove. I can see the logic to this but it seems a real shame. We have no intention to lay carpet (or anything else for that matter) and really like the way the hearths are currently constructed. After all these hearths have been in use (with open fires) for at least 160 years (part of the history, and they look nice). Does anyone know of a way around this - I would be ever so grateful.
(For information - the house is not listed.)
2. Downstairs because of previous damp problems (which we addressing via other means) the lime plaster walls were covered by dryboarding. We have removed the dryboarding but are left with holes in the wall where the wooden stakes/noggins (whatever you call them) that supported the dryboarding were driven into the wall. Have also already removed any plaster which is not sound. We are about to start repair work on the lime plaster walls (never used lime plaster before, but here we go). But what about these really deep holes (approx 3 inches deep) - some of them actually go back into the stone wall. Should we fill the very back of the holes with small stones and mortar, and then move to scratch/finish plaster nearer the surface in line with the rest of the wall?
(We need to buy some mortar anyway for some urgent external pointing work but now am confused because you can also buy haired mortar, when I went on the SPAB weekend we were using unhaired. I can understand wanting to used haired plaster but haired mortar seems a bit odd. The one I am looking at has synthetic hair, which is good because it will store for longer, but doesn't sound very biodegradable which bothers me slightly.)
Many thanks for any advice you are able to give.
1. We are installing two small Stockton multifuel stoves one upstairs and one downstairs. In both cases the original stone hearth is FLUSH with the existing floor level (downstairs the stone hearth is surrounded by the original stone flag floor, upstairs there is a large stone hearth which extends at least 18 inches into the room thereby giving plenty of clearance between the fireplace and the original wood floorboards). We have been told by the person who will fit the chimney liners that because of building regs we need to install NEW HEARTHS WHICH ARE RAISED UP above the level of the floor. The reason for this is to stop someone from laying carpet too close to the stove. I can see the logic to this but it seems a real shame. We have no intention to lay carpet (or anything else for that matter) and really like the way the hearths are currently constructed. After all these hearths have been in use (with open fires) for at least 160 years (part of the history, and they look nice). Does anyone know of a way around this - I would be ever so grateful.
(For information - the house is not listed.)
2. Downstairs because of previous damp problems (which we addressing via other means) the lime plaster walls were covered by dryboarding. We have removed the dryboarding but are left with holes in the wall where the wooden stakes/noggins (whatever you call them) that supported the dryboarding were driven into the wall. Have also already removed any plaster which is not sound. We are about to start repair work on the lime plaster walls (never used lime plaster before, but here we go). But what about these really deep holes (approx 3 inches deep) - some of them actually go back into the stone wall. Should we fill the very back of the holes with small stones and mortar, and then move to scratch/finish plaster nearer the surface in line with the rest of the wall?
(We need to buy some mortar anyway for some urgent external pointing work but now am confused because you can also buy haired mortar, when I went on the SPAB weekend we were using unhaired. I can understand wanting to used haired plaster but haired mortar seems a bit odd. The one I am looking at has synthetic hair, which is good because it will store for longer, but doesn't sound very biodegradable which bothers me slightly.)
Many thanks for any advice you are able to give.