All three cottages have flagstone floors.  At some point, all of the cottages have had a layer of asphalt laid over the flagstones.  Presumably, this was to prevent the damp coming through the flagstones – the stone itself is porous.  Although the asphalt is still in place in number 8 and (what was) number 9, the asphalt had been lifted in number 10.  There were remnants of the asphalt floor under the kitchen units and under the stairs.

We are still working out what to do with the floors.  There are two main issues to be dealt with:

  • The flagstones are porous and are laid directly onto the earth below.  This means that the floor is prone to be damp;
  • There are cellars in number 8 and (what used to be) number 9.  The ceiling of the cellars is made up of 6ft x 4ft stone slabs.  Normally, the damp would be treated by digging up the floor and laying a waterproof concrete floor.  However, this isn’t possible because of the stone slabs over the cellar.

Following the architect’s advice,  I pulled up one of the smaller stone flagstones and had a look underneath.  I took up one of the flagstones that was against the wall, so that we can see the extent of the foundations.  The flagstone is laid directly onto the soil.  The soil is about 12 inches deep on top of (what looks like) bedrock.

Looking on the outside of the wall, the foundation stones are exposed at the base of the wall.  Originally, the ground level outside of the kitchen was just below the level of the current window cill, however, it was dug out when the garden was landscaped and the conservatory (now removed) was built.

Pulling up the flagstone confirms what we thought – they are laid directly onto the earth below.  This explains the dampness coming through the flagstones.  However, it also seems to indicate (at least in this part of the building) that the foundation stones are laid directly onto the bedrock below.

Let’s see what the architect has to say later in the week.

I took up one of the flagstones next to the wall. While the stone is laid directly onto the earth below, it is only 6 inches deep as there is bedrock below.

I took up one of the flagstones next to the wall. While the stone is laid directly onto the earth below, it is only 6 inches deep as there is bedrock below.

The ground level used to be just underneath the window cill, but was dug out when the back garden was revamped. You can see the foundation stones at the base of the wall. The flagstone that we have pulled up is directly the other side of the wall.

The ground level used to be just underneath the window cill, but was dug out when the back garden was revamped. You can see the foundation stones at the base of the wall. The flagstone that we have pulled up is directly the other side of the wall.