Rescuing old floorboards

[CotswoldDigger]

Good evening,

This is my first post so please be gentle I have recently been to an acquaintances home and found that for unknown reasons they have stripped their home of the floorboards. The home is thought to be around 400 years old and the floorboards are (I believe) mostly oak and elm.

The floorboards also have the characteristic hand made nails used to fix them in place, so I have confidence that they have some age to them.

The floorboards have been left outside since around October of last year with no cover. There must be around 25 - 30 square metres of boards.

Quite unbelievably and to my dismay the boards are being used for firewood. I am desperate to save the floorboards if I can and give them a new home. The acquaintance however wants the equivalent money that it will cost them to replace the firewood - they estimate £1,000.

Please could any knowledgable forums goers help me and tell me whether I am wasting my time here. Has the time the floorboards have spent outside ruined them irreversibly? Or is there hope if I save them now - I have a large dry barn space available to dry them over several months slowly if need be. I have attached a photo just for reference of a small selection of the boards which seem relatively sound for their age.

Thank you for your help

 

[Feltwell]

A few months outside won't have done them much harm. Can't really see much of them there but at first glance I'd say they're softwood, also just because the house is old doesn't necessarily mean the boards are as old! Furniture Beetle looks to have been having a munch in some areas as well.

More pictures would be required I'd say to give a proper opinion.

 

[CotswoldDigger]

Thank you for your very quick reply. I’m afraid this is the only other photo I have available together with some of the joists which were also removed.

 

[paulc]

This is my first post so please be gentle I have recently been to an acquaintances home and found that for unknown reasons they have stripped their home of the floorboards. The home is thought to be around 400 years old and the floorboards are (I believe) mostly oak and elm.

If this house is listed (not all 400 year old properties are), he could find himself in big trouble when the Conservation Officer finds out.

 

[Cubist]

My guess is that your neighbour is a farmer, certainly judging by that extortionate price which he is clearly basing on current market prices for kiln dried firewood. It's a damn shame but unless you have a ready use for the boards or can find someone that does, it would be best to treat his offer with the contempt it deserves.

 

[Drayton]

I'm not sure farmers are the only group capable of this behaviour...

 

[CotswoldDigger]

Thank you for all your replies, whilst the house isn’t listed it’s a crying shame to have had all these boards ripped out. I can confirm that whilst the house is a former farmhouse, they are not farmers themselves - however I agree with the sentiment of the cost of kiln dried hardwood!

 

[Gothichome]

Looking at the wood pile, this wood is not from a 400 year old floor. Judging from the saw patterns and the fact that all the wood is dimensional. Some have a saw pattern indicative of a band saw or pit saw, and others have a slight arc to the saw marks indicating circular saw. Also most look to be fir so I would suggest this floor was a Victorian replacement.

 

[Zebra]

That mostly looks like softwood, as others have said - maybe pine - not oak or elm. Other than a few nice pieces I don't see anything much that would be worth doing something with, sorry - at least not for £1000!

 

[CotswoldDigger]

Thank you all for your helpful replies - decision made to leave alone.

 

[Toby Newell]

Good evening,

This is my first post so please be gentle I have recently been to an acquaintances home and found that for unknown reasons they have stripped their home of the floorboards. The home is thought to be around 400 years old and the floorboards are (I believe) mostly oak and elm.

The floorboards also have the characteristic hand made nails used to fix them in place, so I have confidence that they have some age to them.

The floorboards have been left outside since around October of last year with no cover. There must be around 25 - 30 square metres of boards.

Quite unbelievably and to my dismay the boards are being used for firewood. I am desperate to save the floorboards if I can and give them a new home. The acquaintance however wants the equivalent money that it will cost them to replace the firewood - they estimate £1,000.

Please could any knowledgable forums goers help me and tell me whether I am wasting my time here. Has the time the floorboards have spent outside ruined them irreversibly? Or is there hope if I save them now - I have a large dry barn space available to dry them over several months slowly if need be. I have attached a photo just for reference of a small selection of the boards which seem relatively sound for their age.

Thank you for your help

View attachment 10135

right choice. some elm, mostly pine, look like farmers boards from a barn, maybe 100yrs old max. 400yr old oak or elm wide boards £500psqm +