Fitting floor boards over solid concrete floor

[CharlieB]

We have a 2 bed victorian terrace and have exposed floorboards donwstairs. The kitchen extension has a solid concrete floor, rather than the suspended floor elsewhere. I'm about to install a new kitchen, but need to sort the floor out first. We want to install sanded and sealed reclaimed floorboards in the kitchen - I've thought about fitting them across "joists" laid on the concrete - using 25x38 section or similar pressure treated sawn timber for the joists. I don't know whether there is a damp proof membrane in the concrete floor so should I lay one before fitting the timers joists.

Any thoughts as to whether this is a good idea

thanks Charlie

[Pete C]

Hi,

There's plenty of stuff on the web about this, one other thing to consider is the grain orientation on the boards.

If the floor can be raised from the concrete it would allow some insulation under a plywood subfloor, though I don't know if it would save much on heating bills.

cheers, Pete.