I'm thinking of replacing my wooden floor with a concrete

[pottermann]

I'm thinking of having builders remove a wooden floor in my living room and replace with concrete. Would skirtings need to be taken up and how long would a job like this take?

 

[JohnD]

I'm thinking of having builders remove a wooden floor in my living room and replace with concrete.

Why?

do you have a damp problem?

 

[pottermann]

Why? do you have a damp problem?

No not exactly a damp problem but more of a musty type of smell and so am thinking out loud trying to weight up any potential benefits

 

[JohnD]

Try to find the leak and repair it.

Also, clean out the airbricks.

 

[pottermann]

Try to find the leak and repair it. Also, clean out the airbricks.

On balance is it better to leave the original traditional wooden floors in these older Edwardian and Victorian houses rather than replace with concrete?

 

[JohnD]

Yes

Also, it will be much harder to find and repair the leak after you have buried it in concrete.

 

[mrrusty]

The house I live in was built in 1902 with a solid floor back room and suspended front. Anecdotally it was perpetually a problem. Apparently originally joists rotted against the solid floor interface and so sleeper walls were added and the floor rebuilt (1950's). Airbricks only at the front, but poor circulation. When we acquired it, oversite was damp in one corner - ~18" below external ground level. Floor structure was very wormy with damp,

We discussed the options with builder and BC, and then filled it, insulated and concrete slab with service ducts cast in. Definitely the right choice. Along with insulated walls we now have a 1902 edwardian with an EPC "C" rating.

Obviously if there is an actual leak it needs repairing.

Yes, your skirting will all need to come off.

 

[JohnD]

"If?"

Where do you think the water came from?

 

[mrrusty]

In our case it was just groundwater because outside ground was much higher. When it rained hard for long periods the ground under the floor got damp.

We have shallow foundations standing on clay sub-soil.

 

[Notch7]

No not exactly a damp problem but more of a musty type of smell and so am thinking out loud trying to weight up any potential benefits

I would suggest finding out the source of the musty smell.

a solid floor might not solve.

if the musty smell is coming up from the floor void, improving the air flow will help and insulating the floor and fitting a vapour barrier will stop smells.

Damp smells can be from the walls too