Insulation and Framing...

I have finally begun to fit the new floating floor in the original part of Bridge Cottage. The construction of the floor is exactly the same as in the back and front of the house. A frame is constructed to support the dry lining and any stud partitions. This frame is not fixed to the original concrete floor at all, and is not in contact with the stone walls. 75mm Kingspan insulation is then fitted in the spaces to insulate the floor. 50mm and 75mm Kingspan is also used to insulate the walls. The tongue and groove flooring is then laid, and secret nailed to the sub floor frame. Once the floor is laid, the boards will be sanded down and then varnished to protect them.

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First the room is cleared. The new floor will be constructed on top of the existing concrete floor, so the height of the room will be reduced by about 10cm in total.	The insulation boards are laid against the wall first. Then a softwood frame is constructed on the inside. I have also added some extra joists in the centre of the room which will only be used to nail the floor boards to. Then insulation is fitted in all the gaps, the joints taped with aluminium foil tape, and any gaps filled with foam.	As the house is not square we had to try to get the first board parallel with something - we used the south wall. The boards are then cut and laid. All the boards are secret nailed, so no fixings are visible once the floor is complete.


There are two steps which lead into the old part of the house. These have been insulated and boxed in to provide equal rises. These will also be clad using the same flooring as the main house. All the boards will then be sanded down, and varnished to protect them. Looks pretty good in my opinion!	This picture shows the noggins in place. The smaller pieces are located where there will be a join in the plasterboard sheets. The bigger noggins are bracing for the ceiling joists, to stop them twisting.	Another great noggin shot....fascinating!