How to replace damaged floorboards on a landing

[goalc]

Hi - we recently moved into a house in which there had been a leak from the hot water tank and so the floorboards on the landing got wet. The previous owner did not replace them, and so now they are very springy and creak and groan whenever you walk on them (and I also think they then are pushing down on the heating pipes).

They are the larger size boards (presumably chipboard ?) and seem to be interlocked...... so my question is, how do I replace these if they are in the middle of adjoining boards ? If I saw a line down the joint I guess this will free them up, but I cannot see how I would get new boards back in with the joints on each side - do I need to cut these off and somehow put blocks on the joists to screw the new boards directly onto ?

Also, it looks like the boards go from the landing into the bedrooms (under the wall ?) so is this going to be a hard job, and in which case would I be better getting a professional in ? If so, any idea how much joiners charge for this type of work ?

thanks

 

[big-all]

you must cut out all the water dammaged flooring

its preferable to cut on or next next to the joists rather than the joins[although you can get 1 edge only back in if it matches]

if you cut through the join you have to secure a batton through or near the zig zag edge thus easier at a joist

use a circular saw set 1mm LESS than the thickness of the floor
try and remove the dammage area with regards to pipes and wires
you may be able to carefuly remove a hole to see where you have to be
carefull

check the joists with a screwdriver to make shure they havent gone soft

secure a batton onto the floating edge of the floorboard and to the side of the joists if you havent got at least 20mm to secure to
mark services with chalk and pencil screw down the new floor with regards to services[already marked ]

 

[stric]

Just adding to big-al's advice, When possible I remove the nails, draw a line joining the nail holes and cut along that line with the circular saw (because the nails SHOULD be in the centre of the joists, so when you come to fit them back down you wont have to add too many new supporting battons)

 

[goalc]

thanks for the advice - will give it a go this weekend !