Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's cottage.

[LB27]

Hello there! I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of lowering floors? We're thinking of buying an 1800's cottage, but there's a problem of ceilng height in two of the downstairs rooms for my 6'4" partner. Is it possible to lower the solid stone floors by 3"-4", and if so is it a very costly job? Unfortunately we can't increase the ceiling height as there are quite a few beams.
I'd appreciate any help or advice.

 

[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

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[Schoolmarm]

.lol I pressed submit several times and thought it hadn't posted :lol: :lol:

 

[ljn]

I'd ask a structural engineer. I think they will want an inspection hole dug to see the footings or foundations.

 

[LB27]

Thanks for that. We were thinking of getting a surveyor to look at it first.

 

[ljn]

If the building is listed, you might be able to do it at zero rated VAT.
In that case, I'd make the listed building consent very specific, rather than relying on conversations with the Conservation Officer or emails. As a record for the VAT man.

I imagine it would be quite an expensive job. Numbering, removing and storing the flag stones, digging out, skipping the excavated ground (it at least doubles in volume), any underpinning. Re-laying the flagstones.
At that point you would probably want to put underfloor heating in, which would mean insulation underneath...
drain levels might change and become an issue. Then finishing the newly exposed footings of the walls which may lead to plastering the lot. Re decorate. Well, thats what came to mind, thought I'd share that before you start digging.

Could the low ceilings be "full of character"? Could there be another building out there with higher ceilings?

 

[Schoolmarm]

How peculiar, that post above isn't mine. And my details are wrong too.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Hello there! I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of lowering floors? We're thinking of buying an 1800's cottage, but there's a problem of ceilng height in two of the downstairs rooms for my 6'4" partner. Is it possible to lower the solid stone floors by 3"-4", and if so is it a very costly job? Unfortunately we can't increase the ceiling height as there are quite a few beams.
I'd appreciate any help or advice.

LOL! And this isn't my post either :shock:

 

[worms]

Interesting that when you use the quote tags it comes in as LB27!

 

[Feltwell]

There's always the helpful suggestion from SWMBO that was made when we looked at a place with ceilings that were too low for me - that it would be far quicker and cheaper to lower her husband.... :shock:

Seriously, for the original poster, whoever you may be (!), it sounds like a big job and one that would need checking out carefully. It's not impossible, I have seen it done in 1 house, but you have to be very careful not to compromise the structure of the house. If your surveyor starts talking about pouring concrete then chances are you have the wrong surveyor, what you don't want to do is put a new impermeable floor in that pushes damp up into the walls.

Are the current floors original and undisturbed, or have the flags been up once before and re-laid on concrete? That will make a difference to how easy or difficult the job is. And bear in mind that if the building is listed then there is absolutely no guarantee you would be able to get consent to lower the floors.

In all honesty, unless the cottage is seriously special and you feel you must have it and will stay there for a long time, I'd look for somewhere else. It will be a lot of work, mess and expense to lower the floors and I doubt that it will do much for the value of the house. If the floors are the originals and your work is done badly, with inappropiate materials, then you could end up with a whole host of problems. A lot of people would look at the low ceilings of an old house as being part of the character and appeal, providing of course that they are sufficiently vertically challenged themselves to be able to stand up straight in it !

 

[Hatster]

I thought it seemed a bit of an odd post, Schoolmarm!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

There may be "only one Penners", but clear "There's more than one Schoolmarm".

Altogether now...

Most forums won't allow duplicate usernames - for precisely this reason. I suggest a quick PM to the other Schoolmarm and see if she will re-register a different username - with only acouple of posts to her credit against your 600-odd I am sure she will agree. Maybe email the mods also to see if they can enable unique usernames?

 

[Schoolmarm]

I keep seeing that other people have replied but I click on this thread and I am still the last poster. Hmmm I could use this to my advantage.