Do new floorboards need treating?

[r1bena]

Hi all,

I'm going to replace some old floorboards in my bathroom in a few weeks - the old ones rotted a bit at the edges, due to damp from a leaky bath. I'm going to buy the new boards this weekend, so they have time to acclimatise and so on, but I'm not sure whether I need to treat the floorboards and the joists underneath with anything. Can anyone tell me if I need to treat them and with what? Wood hardener, maybe?

By the way, the whole bathroom is being replaced, so the source of the damp problem will have gone.

Thanks in advance,
R1

 

[turbine]

Ribena, untill you lift the boards you will not know what state the joists are in if it is an old problem more than likely it couls have affected the joists but until you have a look you won't know, but if you are replacing the bathroom you will have plenty of room to work in a do the job if it is required.

 

[r1bena]

Thanks turbine.

The good news is that most of the boards are up and the joists are lookin' fine My question should really have been do I need to treat the new floorboards with anything?

Cheers,
R1

 

[masona]

do I need to treat the new floorboards with anything?

As long you have good ventilation via air brick underneath you should be okay and depends what the finish flooring on top is going to be. I only normally treat the end grains with wood preserver cuprinol or pvc to stop the water soaking into the grains.