Repairing a lime-ash floor

[oddjobboy]

I have a small mid-terrace cottage in East Yorks which has a limeash first floor.

I've stripped a couple of inches of concrete from the top surface in order to reduce some of the weight on the timbers below.

Generally the limeash is in reasonable shape but there are areas near the wall we've just had to rebuild that are damaged.

Does anyone have any suggestions for best practice to repair limeash?
I'm not looking for perfection, just a sympathetic fix.

 

[biffvernon]

There' a SPAB leaflet. Some stuff on my page about Lime As Floors

 

[oddjobboy]

Thanks Biff.

The SPAB leaflet is a good read but doesn't really tackle the repair of lime ash floors.

I have read the information on your site with interest and on your suggestion shall contact Rose of Jerico on Monday.

However, any advice from anyone with real-world experience of getting new lime to bond with the old would still be welcome.

Now that the modern concrete has been removed from the top of the lime, the main damage is, as I said, near the wall that's being repaired and also where some cables have been rather carelessly chased in.

Thanks all.

 

[oddjobboy]

Crumbs. I've just seen the reference to the SPAB leaflet on your site and it's different to the more general SPAB publication I have been reading.

I'll get hold of the SPAB repair guide and let you know how I get on.

 

[Nemesis]

Please do also call SPAB (free helpline) for advice if required - lovely to have a lime ash floor, fascinating things. What's yours laid on? Looks like reed?

If you google lime ash floor there are a number of articles available via the internet too.

 

[oddjobboy]

Yep. They're definitely reeds. Probably from opposite the house on the river bank. There's still the seed heads on some of what's been exposed exposed.

I think the reeds also had a few split oak/hazel strips in there too.

 

[Nemesis]

I suspect the wood was laid for some base strength then the reeds laid on top in order to give the lime ash something to 'sit' on.

Lovely to have!