Fixing our sagging floor

Finding (or admitting to myself) that the floor in the boys room was not in any way flat or level, was a pretty demoralising time. It happened at the start of a week off which I’d aimed to use to get the room all done apart from the painting; instead, I spent most of the…

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Laying slate

At the end of my last post, the floor was ready to tile, and our slates were all ready to go. I got sorted out with some adhesive, a 10mm notched trowel to make a good deep bed of said adhesive, some 5mm spacers and some grout. First up, since we’re using natural slate, it…

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Deafening

In flats, soundproofing is important. There are loads of rules about it in the building standards, but having lived in a modern flat and now in our Victorian flat, I think they did a better job of it 120 years ago. When it comes to soundproofing, mass is your friend. Lightweight materials won’t absorb and…

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Draughtproofing

Our floorboards are all tongue and groove, which is great for reducing noise and draughts.  Over the years though, boards have been lifted, which means cut or broken tongues. You can feel a bit of a breeze blowing through those gaps, and on windy winter days (plenty of those in Edinburgh!) it’s very noticeable. I…

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