David Dalrymple
Member
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Sheffield
Hi all
First post here! Though I've been a regular reader for a while...
We've recently taken ownership of a Georgian farmhouse - solid sandstone walls, built around 1820. We've been renovating and restoring recently and pulled up the carpet in our living room to reveal floorboards. This was somewhat of a surprise, even though the floor felt hollow, as the rest of the rooms in the house all have solid floors. What's odder still is that the joists were resting on the dirt underneath or on stones, with no void. Odder still is that there were no air bricks or vents (again what led me to think it couldn't be suspended). Final oddity is that there was only a little rot.
I've dug out about 4 inches of dirt (being careful around the edges) and drilled some ventilation holes. I've also laid dpc under the joists where they make contact with the props. Ive also dropped the ground level on the outside wall where the beams damp and run a french drain.
I'd love to know why you think this room might have been built like that. Could it be that it was the "formal room" (it was a living room with decorative coving). Or could someone have put them in later? I'd also love to know how it's survived 200 years resting on dirt!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
David
First post here! Though I've been a regular reader for a while...
We've recently taken ownership of a Georgian farmhouse - solid sandstone walls, built around 1820. We've been renovating and restoring recently and pulled up the carpet in our living room to reveal floorboards. This was somewhat of a surprise, even though the floor felt hollow, as the rest of the rooms in the house all have solid floors. What's odder still is that the joists were resting on the dirt underneath or on stones, with no void. Odder still is that there were no air bricks or vents (again what led me to think it couldn't be suspended). Final oddity is that there was only a little rot.
I've dug out about 4 inches of dirt (being careful around the edges) and drilled some ventilation holes. I've also laid dpc under the joists where they make contact with the props. Ive also dropped the ground level on the outside wall where the beams damp and run a french drain.
I'd love to know why you think this room might have been built like that. Could it be that it was the "formal room" (it was a living room with decorative coving). Or could someone have put them in later? I'd also love to know how it's survived 200 years resting on dirt!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
David