Which wood for floorboards?

[skier-hughes]

As it says.
Is there a preference for which wood should be used as flooboards?
Our upstairs ones ahve been replaced and are not that nice.

Whilst cleaning the beams in the kitchen I thought, urm....

If we are going to replace these at some time, would it be a good idea to do it before we put in a lovely kitchen....

So, is it down to what I like the look of?

Is one type better than another? Beech rather than Oak or whatever?

No idea what they were originally as they have all been changed, probably about 50 years ago.

The floors will be left open on the upstairs and don't know yet about downstairs, maybe left, but probably limewashed to give a lighter colour.

Graham

 

[Penners]

Can't remember the era of your house, Graham.

Elm was widely used for floorboards, as well as oak. Trouble is, the dutch elm disease has rather kyboshed that choice. Pity, because personally I like the figure of elm more than oak, for floors.

I don't know whether imported elm is available.

 

[biffvernon]

There is still a bit of elm about, my local sawmill has some - but you'll pay for the privilege. Best stick with oak now.

 

[skier-hughes]

Can't remember the era of your house, Graham.

Varies on which bedroom you are in!!!

Mostly about 400-500 years old.

I'll look at elm.

Thanks both.

 

[skier-hughes]

Henry Venables have some UK Elm, so I'll pop over and have a look at it. It is in fact cheaper than their comparative Character English Oak, which we have already had off them for the kitchen units.
http://www.henryvenables.com/character-grade-english-p-63.html

Penners, your daughter has some marvellous wide floorboards.

Did they have to source any "new" ones at all. I think they look great, much better than the std guage ones avilable as new boards.

Graham

 

[Penners]

No, I think the last elm boards were laid in the house around about the time that some Scots bloke called Jimmy Stuart was being enthroned.

 

[skier-hughes]

Was he the lead singer with The Bay City Rollers?

 

[Penners]

I thought he was the guy who used to talk to a 6-foot-tall rabbit.

 

[David Q]

Elm or oak if your house is pre 1840ish, but pine after that. Almost all Victorian and Edwardian houses used softwood not hardwood.

 

[Nemesis]

As did a number of late Geo ones also.

If so, then Douglas Fir is a good choice to replace.

 

[Pford75]

Our house is 1780 and all the boards are pine (guessing that this is the case with a lot of Norfolk houses.)

Although rather strangely, the skirting seems to be oka....perhaps this was added much later?

 

[Nemesis]

Our house is of a similar era and the boards are also pine. Pine then was imported in the main (Baltic etc) and rather better quality than the stuff you get now.

In Wordsworth House Cockermouth the National Trust has replaced rotten boards with Douglas Fir and it looks good. It's a nicely figured wood and a little more dense than modern all - purpose and very soft 'pine'.

Interesting about oak skirtings - what is the rest of the joinery made from?

 

[Penners]

Pine then was imported in the main (Baltic etc)

Still is.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes - it became a pretty major import business in the latter part of the 18th century. Rather better quality than a great deal, of what we get now.

 

[skier-hughes]

Yes because it grows slower, so remaining tight straight grained.

 

[Penners]

Because of the colder climate.

 

[David Q]

Also better trees (all cut down later). Few imports on my side of the country, so hardwoods used later here (Wales) than elsewhere. Softwood imports into this country began around the end of the eighteenth century for ship building, housing realised it was there a little later. Nelsons navy was dependent upon the Baltic timber trade, which was why the battle of Copenhagen was so important

 

[skier-hughes]

Our postman brought us a book today which he had been given to read by another resident. In it is a brief history of our house.

First house built 13th century.
Demolished rebuilt 14th Century.
This house built on 14th Century site started in 16th Century, then added to 1780 and 1850.

So, does this make any difference?

It's nice living in a small community where the postman knows you'd be interested in reading things like this. Now to find someone who has the book for sale!!!

Graham

 

[Nemesis]

abe-books?

 

[Penners]

Also better trees

No, I'm talking about like-for-like. Pinus Sylvestris (Scots Pine) produces much better wood when grown slowly in a cold climate than it does in a warmer climate.