Solid Earth Floor Renovation Ideas ?

Scardoor

I am working on a renovation project on an ooold stone cottage down in Tipperary (with little prior experience, learning as we go). Does anyone have any advice on the best way of renovating an earth floor?

After tearing up about 8 layers of lino in one of the downstairs rooms, we have discovered that they were laid on top of nothing but solid, damp earth. We dug down into the earth about a hand's width but haven't found anything beneath it... the stone walls have about two inches of a concrete-like layer on top of them which stops about where the lino began.

We are working with very little means and are looking for the simplest, cheapest solution to replace this with a decent floor. Any suggestions welcome!

jonon9

I know the type of cottage you have my uncle has one as well. It's basically stone walls in earth.

In order to make it a comfy living space you have a lot of work to do and it can get costly. Tell us more about the place has it water,electricity etc or is it just the walls?

Reason I ask is sometimes it's not cost effective doing up these old places.

Scardoor

Hi Jonon, you are absolutely right, it doesn't have electricity or running water. The original plan was indeed to tear it down.

We are getting a professional to replace the roof (it has a hole and bad timbers) but we want to do as much as possible ourselves with a very restrained budget. Salvaging materials, using online ressources etc. It's more an experiment in what is achievable than anything else!

smjm

Couple of links that might be of interest to you:

'Traditional Solid Ground Floors'

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/solid-ground-floors/solid-ground-floors.htm

'Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings - Insulating Solid Ground Floors'

https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/eehb-insulating-solid-ground-floors/heag087-solid-floors.pdf/

Scardoor

Thank you smjm! I had already investigated the first site but the second one is very helpful.