Page 68 - CFJ_Feb26

ADVICE & INFORMATION

Alec Stacey

Flooring for historic buildings: conservation principles

every specifier must know

Specifying floor treatments for historic buildings requires balancing conservation principles
with performance, durability, and aesthetics, says Alec

ONA has long been involved managing, and maintaining traditional As much as possible of the original
Bwith old floors within historic and historic buildings. material should be retained with full
buildings. From the Tower of London, Whether you’re a homeowner with a replacement avoided if repairs are
Admiralty Arch and Hever Castle to Victorian terrace, a buyer considering a feasible.
Abbey Road recording studios, there’s listed property, or a developer working A crucial aspect of BS 7913 is its
always a degree of concern whether on Georgian heritage assets, it’s guidance on dampness, timber decay,
the proposed floor renovation will important to have a good understanding and insect infestation in historic
alter aspects of the performance or buildings. The Standard directly
aesthetics. challenges the outdated requirement
Of course, this is understandable; often cited by mortgage valuers when
but from a specifier or contractor’s they ask for a damp survey made by the
perspective, what are the criteria for Property Care Association (PCA), which
specifying wood flooring treatments has led to widespread unnecessary
within historic or listed buildings? chemical treatments, inappropriate
When working with listed buildings interventions, and permanent damage
all works that may affect the ‘historic to period properties.
fabric’, must be considered and are Instead, the document encourages
subject to specific conservation intelligent, cost-effective diagnosis -
principles. The historic fabric is emphasising issues like ground levels,
the original, or added, building or ventilation, and moisture control. In
construction materials, features most cases chemical treatment is
and finishes that existed during the unnecessary.
period that are deemed to be most of the conservation principles. BS 7913 provides practical guidance
architecturally or historically significant Minimal Intervention is of primary on how to assess moisture and water
or both. importance. Unlike outdated industry ingress. Timber decay is typically
Key criteria for treatments are approaches that rely heavily on moisture related. Providing the moisture
based on preservation, reversibility, chemical treatments and invasive content of the wood remains below
compatibility, and minimal intervention. repairs, BS 7913 promotes a holistic, 20% fungal activity will cease without
These are detailed in the British low impact approach with a focus the need for chemicals. Damp can also
Standard BS 7913: 2013 ‘Guide to the on accurate diagnosis, sustainable relate to other issues such as poor
Conservation of Historic Buildings’. This methods, and preserving the character drainage or ventilation rather than rising
describes best practices for inspecting, and fabric of buildings. damp from the subfloor/walls etc.

The home of professionals working in the
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68 CFJ February 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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