Should I remove this rubble

[skier-hughes]

I wonder if I am being a bit over the top in remvoing this rubble.
So far I have taken away two bucket loads but have found two lovely slim hand made full bricks for future use.

SHould I keep going until I can't reach any further, or isn't it going to do any harm to leave it, and I get down to tidying up to get ready for painting when the paint arrives

 

[JoceAndChris]

I'm a bit confused as to where you rubble is and why you need to remove it?

I thought rubble was an integral part of building techniques of long ago? All my floorboards have got tons of old rubble underneath.

 

[Moo]

an integral part of building techniques of long ago

And not so long ago, if what I've found under floorboards is anything to go by!

 

[Penners]

It depends on the location of the rubble, Graham.

If it's where your lovely new Wesley-Barrell sofa, or Titchmarsh & Goodwin refectory table, is going to stand, then I think it might be best to remove it.

Where is it?

 

[Moo]

The caption to the second picture says "looking under the floor downwards"

 

[skier-hughes]

The floor is on the first floor.
The room where I can access the rubble is the bedroom.
The rubble is under the boards which hold the hot water tank.
Underneath below the floor is the kitchen, underneath the hot water tank appears to be a large void filled with rubble, and it's your more common and garden builders, where shall we get rid of this rubble, as in, lots of broken tiles, bricks, old mortar, some old laths.
The void can't be used for anything, no access other than from the small hole above, arrowed.
Adjacent to the void is the chimney downstairs.
The far wall will now be an outside north facing wall, with the oil tank situated outside of it.

I'm just wondering if the fact it's packed with rubble might cause damp problems, but then, if it's been like that for 50 years and it is all dry down there, so may be I should be thinking it won't :roll:

 

[Jon Maine]

If its backs against an external wall and is entirely sealed with no potential for ventilation it may cause a damp problem. looks like that would be vented enough.

So I suspect you are ok, anyway just remove the valuable materials if worried and then use the same hole to dispose of your own worthless rubble, a favourite technique of mine ( also the builders who worked on and originally built the house ).

We have a disused flue here because the fireplace was turned into a door but I consider there could be the option to re-instate one day so I filled with loose rubble so it is easy to remove later. This is instead of my usual trick of limecrete on redundant flues.

 

[Penners]

where shall we get rid of this rubble, as in, lots of broken tiles, bricks, old mortar, some old laths.

Are you going to need any hardcore at any time? If so, then the broken bricks and tiles will do nicely. The old laths would probably make excellent kindling for the fire (assuming they're dry). That just leaves the mortar...

 

[Flyfisher]

My instinct would be to remove it, if only to improve ventilation under the floor. But, as you say, it doesn't seem to have caused any problems over many years so perhaps it should stay lest you be nicked by the heritage police for removing historic fabric.

 

[skier-hughes]

I've removed as much as my short arms will allow, plus I got a bit fed up of doing one arm push ups.
Looking at it now, it looks no different but it is at least a few feet (inches) lower and I have 8 nice 1 3/4" hand made bricks and several half bricks for whenever they are required elswhere.