Ask The Trades - Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house.

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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Building Questions › Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house.

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Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. (Read 12017 times)

LB27

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Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house.
Jun 5^th, 2009, 1:09pm

We're thinking about putting an offer in for an 1850's brick house. It's been renovated and extended in recent years, but the room height is still a problem in a couple of the rooms for my 6'4" partner.
The rooms have numerous beams within them, so I imagine we can't really do much upwards, but does anyone have any advice on whether it's possible to lower the floor slightly by 3-4"?
The current floor is a solid stone floor, and I really love the house, so I'm hoping there's some way around the problem.

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Zambezi

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Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house.
Reply #1 - Jun 5^th, 2009, 1:48pm

It is difficult to say without seeing the place but I would guess that if it is a really old place the footings/foundations would not be that great, so messing with the floor may end up being expensive because you may need to underpin the foundations.
I am sure one of the builders will give more informed advice when they get back from work Grin

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LB27 GDPR opt-out	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #2 - Jun 5^th, 2009, 2:44pm Many thanks for your advice. I was worrying about the possible need for under-pinning.
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Joiner Trade Member Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 2063 Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0 Bridgnorth, Shropshire England Trade: Joiner	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #3 - Jun 5^th, 2009, 7:07pm Is it detached? And even though it's 1850, is it Listed? When you say the floor is "solid stone", could you be a little more specific?
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wozzy Trade Member Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 584 Total Thanks: 4 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #4 - Jun 5^th, 2009, 7:39pm Zambs u wrote that at 1:48, u will only have to wait 3mins and all the builders that i seem to work with would be gone home!
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LB27 GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 4 For This Post: 0	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #5 - Jun 5^th, 2009, 9:29pm Hi Joiner, It's a detached, non listed, stone on solid rubble I would think. It's brick built so I assume it has some sort of foundations. Thanks for any advice, L
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Joiner

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Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house.
Reply #6 - Jun 6^th, 2009, 8:37am

Zambezi advised caution and he's right, but in view of the extensive work that's already been done, on first consideration I can't see why it couldn't be done because we're only talking a brick's thickness here.

BUT, on second consideration that sort of gut reaction (especially at several removes from the situation) signals the need for caution, to rein-in the enthusiasm a bit and start to consider the details.

[Cwatters, what are the chances that the plans for the previous work will still be available from the LA?]

My sensible-hat approach would be to advise getting the opinion of a surveyor. If the property is such a good buy (and you're obviously attracted to it) then that should be a good investment, protecting both your bank balance post-purchase and your peace of mind whilst negotiating the buy.

In practical terms, lowering the floor is fairly straightforward and well within the capabilities of any competent builder, in fact I'd be inclined to get a good builder to have a look at the situation, they're less prone to knee-jerk reactions than surveyors.

« Last Edit: Jun 6^th, 2009, 6:58pm by Joiner »

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LB27 GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #7 - Jun 6^th, 2009, 10:58am That's so helpful. Thanks so much. We're definately going to get a surveyor or builder to come and have a look before we do anything. Have a nice weekend, L
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LB27 GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #8 - Jun 7^th, 2009, 10:26am Incidently, do you think it's possible to take an inch or two off any of the beams??
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Joiner Trade Member Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 2063 Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0 Bridgnorth, Shropshire England Trade: Joiner	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #9 - Jun 7^th, 2009, 12:08pm Don't even think of going there!
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LB27 GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #10 - Jun 7^th, 2009, 3:24pm Ta, I'll put the saw away then!!
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Zambezi GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #11 - Jun 7^th, 2009, 5:04pm Only if you want to have really high ceilings and no rooms above the ground floor
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LB27 GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #12 - Jun 8^th, 2009, 9:39am Ha!!
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CWatters

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Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house.
Reply #13 - Jun 24^th, 2009, 8:34am

Bit late but.. Is there a DPC in the wall? If not be a little careful what sort of floor you put down. I've read that sometimes taking up old earth/stone floors and laying a concrete floor "pushes" ground water upto the walls and this can cause damp if there isn't a DPC.

Over on the greenbuilding forum some people recommend a limecrete floor in such cases.

Aside: It's said that the problem is caused by changing from a breathable floor to an impermeable one. To me that implies the breathable one must allow water in the floor to escape into the room and then out via ventilation/draughts. I'm not entirely convinced this is the mechanisim.

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Joiner Trade Member Offline Ask The Trades Posts: 2063 Total Thanks: 7 For This Post: 0 Bridgnorth, Shropshire England Trade: Joiner	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #14 - Jun 24^th, 2009, 3:43pm Hence: "in fact I'd be inclined to get a good builder to have a look at the situation". Feasibility, then detail. But what about: "[Cwatters, what are the chances that the plans for the previous work will still be available from the LA?]"?
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CWatters Super Member Offline "Daddy fick it" says James Posts: 5150 Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0 Gender:	Re: Lowering floors in a 1850's farm house. Reply #15 - Jun 24^th, 2009, 6:33pm Joiner wrote on Jun 24^th, 2009, 3:43pm: But what about: "[Cwatters, what are the chances that the plans for the previous work will still be available from the LA?]"? Sorry no idea. Will have to ask them.
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