Bungalow refurb new home.

[Glyn Walsh]

Hello all. Having purchased and moved into our new home last December, we are now in the thick of it all. I’ve done various diy repairs before but these are getting bigger now. The lounge floor had a large bump in it so the floor has come up and offending joist replaced. The floor was 18mm t+g chipboard as are all the other floors so new 18mm c/board is going back down. Never done this before but is it right I have to leave an expansion gap for the board against the walls? I know you do with natural wood but I thought it would b different with chipboard as it’s manufactured! If I do, is it possible to do without taking he skirtings off?
Also found a decent sized crack in the outer wall after removing paper. Should we be worried or does it just look like settlement?
Thanks for any replies.

 

[foxhole]

Screw and glue the flooring expansion gap not required , probably be small gap all round which skirting will hide.
Crack probably ok but remove a little plaster to check .

 

[KenGMac]

Glyn Walsh, good evening.

See this is your first post on the site, welcome, if no one else says so.

Am with foxhole on fixing the flooring.

Have you considered installing under floor insulation in the room??? after all you have a perfect opportunity to do so now?? just a consideration.

As for the cracks, are there any indications at all externally in nearly the same position?

The left hand wall has possible detached very slightly from the external wall hence the vertical crack between them, and this can at times occasion the other cracking.

Ken

 

[Glyn Walsh]

Thanks for the replies guys and the greeting.
Yes first post. I have considered insulation but didn’t know if it was worth it for just one room. Plus having to take the skirtings off for the membrane to be fastened. Will have a think on that one. I’ll knock off the plaster and investigate further. There is what appears to be a corresponding crack on the outside but looks like it was mortared a while ago.

 

[Glyn Walsh]

Right. You guys may get fed up of me posting soon but I need some more advice please. This is a picture of what I found under the floor in the hall. The manifolds feed the lounge and front bedroom. Looking at their condition I’m presuming they require replacing?
I’m replacing the two lounge rads with vertical ones so was going to run new 8mm pipework to them, but then I found this. Also is 8mm pipe going to heat the vertical rads ok? Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

 

[Glyn Walsh]

Helps I suppose if I put the piccys on!!!!!