sharkbait - probably. Although in this instance, all the interior oak has been treated with Danish oil. Whilst Danish oil is not the best for slowing down the rate of drying out, it will help, especially if the owner makes a point of re-applying each year. But there is a lot of exposed oak in their place and quite frankly, the temperature they run the heating at it's going to make little difference.
One of the better oils to use to slow drying out is a mix of boiled linseed oil and white spirit on a 75:25 mix ratio. Works well with weatherboarding.
And back on this subject.
We've decided on a wooden floor which means we have to get the hearth sorted before we can get that put down (I think).
The hearth we've decided on will be something like this.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/8717200846_13973df8db.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53067724@N00/8717200846/ ]fireplace[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53067724@N00/ ]Jon Wyatt[/url], on Flickr
Now the floor is wooden floor boards with about 2 foot of space underneath. my question is, will we need to build up from the real floor of the house or can this sort of arrangement be built onto the floorboards? I'm assuming the former.
That brickwork behind the stove looks a bit saggy, which might happen to yours if it's standing on the floorboards.
