Property types · Rochester, ME1
1930s semis in Rochester often mix solid and suspended floors with original parquet. What to check before fitting a new floor covering.
Rochester property stock leans towards georgian townhouses, so room sizes and door positions rarely match the estate-agent floorplan. We measure on site before anything is ordered, whichever finish gets chosen.
1930s semis sit at an interesting point in flooring history: many have solid concrete floors downstairs at the front, suspended timber further back, and original parquet block flooring that owners are often keen to keep or work around. Knowing which is which changes everything about how a new floor is fitted.
Original tiled hearths sit proud of the surrounding floor in many 1930s semis, creating a level change that needs planning for when a new floor is fitted across the room. Where a hearth has been removed, the infill underneath is not always level with the rest of the floor.
It is common in 1930s semis for the front reception rooms to sit on solid concrete while rooms further back remain suspended timber, especially where rear extensions were added later. This means subfloor preparation can genuinely differ from room to room in the same house, and it is worth confirming rather than assuming one type throughout.
Rochester property stock leans towards georgian townhouses, so room sizes and door positions rarely match the estate-agent floorplan. We measure on site before anything is ordered, whichever finish gets chosen.
Rochester property stock leans towards georgian townhouses, so room sizes and door positions rarely match the estate-agent floorplan. We measure on site before anything is ordered, whichever finish gets chosen.
Postcode district ME1, Medway Council.
Many 1930s semis retain original parquet block flooring, often under carpet, laid directly onto a solid subfloor with bitumen adhesive. Where it survives in reasonable condition it can sometimes be sanded and refinished, but where blocks have lifted or the subfloor beneath is uneven, it needs a proper assessment rather than covering straight over.
We reach Rochester via the M2 Junction 2, and cover the wider ME1 district as part of our normal round.
Photography is from our own projects in Kent and is included to show finish and detail, not to represent any named address.
Check for solid, suspended or mixed construction across the house.
Decide whether to restore, cover or remove based on condition and level.
Solid 1930s floors were built without a damp proof membrane as standard.
It could be either, and many houses of this era have both, with solid floors at the front and suspended timber further back. A survey is the reliable way to confirm which applies room by room.
This depends on its condition. Sound parquet in reasonable condition can sometimes be sanded and refinished, while lifted or damaged blocks are better assessed properly before deciding whether to cover or replace.
Not usually. Solid ground floors from this period were generally built before damp proof membranes were standard, so moisture testing before fitting is worth doing.
Original tiled hearths were built proud of the surrounding floor and this level change needs planning for when a new floor covering is fitted across the room.
1930s semis in Rochester often mix solid and suspended floors with original parquet, so a proper survey matters before any flooring is fitted.
We check mixed subfloors, parquet and hearth levels properly before recommending anything.