Lime Ash Floor

The spab leaflet is a good read but doesn t really tackle the repair of lime ash floors.

Lime ash floor.

Adding wood ash to lime mortar or plaster makes it harder and more waterproof hydraulic than the lime on its own would be. They were strong flexible and offered good heat and sound insulation. Lime ash floors were an economic form of floor construction from the 15th century to the 19th century for upper floors in parts of england where limestone or chalk were easily available. I have read the information on your site with interest and on your suggestion shall contact rose of jerico on monday.

They were usually laid over a bed of reeds laid on wooden laths fixed to the joists. Lime wash is a time tested treatment for wood and masonry that complements many architectural styles. They were a clever composition as they are flexible enough to cope with minor movement in the building they are breathable they are much warmer to walk on than a concrete floor and they look good. Ash is one of the most common pozzolanic modifiers for lime.

Lime ash floors are found at ground level and at first floor level often supported on a layer of reeds over the joists and hidden from below by plaster and lath ceilings. However any advice from anyone with real world experience of getting new lime to bond with the old would still be welcome. Lime ash floors were made with the ash residue of lime kilns.