When we originally bought the Trullo Azzurro and had it done up we told the architect to leave the flagstones (chianchi in Italian) because we figured that if they lifted them they would never be able to get them back down in the right place again.
Recently we had some plumbing work done in the bathroom and they did a good job of lifting and re-laying the tiles. We also discovered that the flagstones were laid directly onto the clay - no wonder the building was always a bit cool and damp over the winter.
So we asked Saverio our builder to quote for installing under-floor heating and a second boiler. That turned out to be very expensive. Also the flagstones are too thick for under-floor heating so would have had to be taken away to the quarry for slicing in half with risk of breakages.
In the end we arrived at a compromise: lift the floor, dig down and prepare the ground with damp-proof course and an insulating layer, then re-lay the original floor. Whilst this was being done we paid to have pipes put in place for normal radiators so if we changed our mind later and put in a second boiler we wouldn’t have to re-dig up the floor.
The room with flagstones lifted…
… and all neatly stacked in the courtyard
Then they dug down 30-40cm
Pipework for a possible future heating system.
Insulating expanded foam “igloos”. They also allow for some air circulation.
Flagstones re-laid
Furniture back in place as if nothing had happened.
It turns out that this under-floor layer is what a number of fellow Trulli owners have done. Now they tell us! We should find the place drier, warmer and easier to heat.
Whilst the builder was there we got him to improve the lane up to the Trullo as the winter rains had eroded some of the surface.
So all is looking spick and span for our first guests which will be my sister Jane and second cousin Effie next week.
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