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Chasing out under floorboards!

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Yes, I've never seen or done this before.

Wing added to a mansion house in 1875 and on lifting floorboards off 8" x 2.5" joists found an intermediate layer between floorboards and lath and plaster ceiling below.

This layer consisted of tile batten nailed to sides of joists about 2,5" from the bottom, usual lathes between joists which have approximately 1.5" plaster with fine straw mixed in and a second layer on top of harder plaster approximately 3/4" deep. with a fairly smooth finish.

This leaves approximately 1" void below boards and as described earlier, about 2.5" void above ceiling.

So to be able to drill holes in the joists entails chasing out this layer,........... Easiest way I found is to use multicutter and accept their wear. Fortunately I can regrind them to get second and third life out of the blades.

Right, the question for you is why this construction? Fire protection or sound transmission or some other reason? I know the Victorian houses of this status with 1500+ acres did suffer catastrophic fires and were also very mindful of the servants listening in!


Regards


BOD
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  • 0
    Not seen straw with plaster, but certainly in old substantial houses in Glasgow and many old tenements there was the exact same arrangement,between floorboars of the upper level and lathe and plaster ceiling of room below, we called then "Dwarf Floorboards" as they were of timber construction and laid on top was maybe four five inches of ashes, horrible black stuff, it was put in and must have been tons of the stuff and it acted as deafning, or so I was told as an apprentice to act as a sound transfer barrier, certainly worked.


    Cheers GTB
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  • 0
    Not seen straw with plaster, but certainly in old substantial houses in Glasgow and many old tenements there was the exact same arrangement,between floorboars of the upper level and lathe and plaster ceiling of room below, we called then "Dwarf Floorboards" as they were of timber construction and laid on top was maybe four five inches of ashes, horrible black stuff, it was put in and must have been tons of the stuff and it acted as deafning, or so I was told as an apprentice to act as a sound transfer barrier, certainly worked.


    Cheers GTB
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