On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:38:53 GMT, "brugnospamsia"
wrote:

What's on the upstairs floors at the moment? I'd retain the original
floorboards if possible, a buyer might want to have an original wood
floor upstairs.

I'm likely to damage quite a few lifting them whatever I do to stiffen the
floor - unless I worked from below I suppose (the Lath and plaster ceiling
will come down by itself if I don't remove it myself)

Yes, just work from below.

http://uk.geocities.com/gentlegreengiant/ruinbig.jpg

This is the style of house I have. I bet there isn't a single house in my
street with stripped boards upstairs - half a dozen have been for sale
recently and the online photos show carpet in every case ... though with the
prices at the insane level they are now (I wouldn't be able to buy it now if
I was starting out !), perhaps I have to look to a more affluent kind of
buyer ....

Carpet is cheeep but in some rooms I'd prefer stripped floorboards
with a bordered sisal rug, I think that's more classy.

If you're replacing the downstairs ceiling you could 'sister' the
existing joists with some extra timber to stiffen them up a bit,
doubling the width will double the stiffness.

I've considered this but the beam ends have been half-way into solid brick
walls for 140 years ... It's actually going to be less bother to go the
whole hog ....

No need to take the ends into the wall, it's just to stiffen the
existing joists rather than reduce the load on them. Could be worth
getting the blessing of an structural engineer.

Try asking on the forums at 'Period Property' to get some feedback and
more ideas.

cheers,
Pete.