Replacing the flooring...

[macadonald]

Hi Guys,

As I work through our old 1930's house, I also plan on lifting all the old floor boards upstairs and replacing this with larger panels. Two reasons, one is the noise we currently have when walkign around upstairs and the other is that I thought of maybe being able to use the upstairs boards to carry through the downstairs when we get aroud to doing an extension. This will hopefully keep the same look throughout.

What is the best to replace them with. I've seen the large tongue and groove chip board panels at wickes or B&Q, about the same size as a piece of plaster board. Is this best or should it be an mdf panel or somethign else?

Also, can I put some roof insulation in in the cavity between the downstairs ceiling and upstairs flooring? Both for sound and insulation? Just feel that I may as well do this all now while I can.

Lastly, on lifting the upstairs carpet to see the floor boards, they appear to simply be dirty pieces of old pine with a green tinge to them which I assume is a treatment. Is this all that traditional floor boards are? Pine, that is sanded and varnished?

Thanks

 

[geraldthehamster]

Hi Guys,

As I work through our old 1930's house, I also plan on lifting all the old floor boards upstairs and replacing this with larger panels. Two reasons, one is the noise we currently have when walkign around upstairs and the other is that I thought of maybe being able to use the upstairs boards to carry through the downstairs when we get aroud to doing an extension. This will hopefully keep the same look throughout.

What is the best to replace them with. I've seen the large tongue and groove chip board panels at wickes or B&Q, about the same size as a piece of plaster board. Is this best or should it be an mdf panel or somethign else?

Also, can I put some roof insulation in in the cavity between the downstairs ceiling and upstairs flooring? Both for sound and insulation? Just feel that I may as well do this all now while I can.

Lastly, on lifting the upstairs carpet to see the floor boards, they appear to simply be dirty pieces of old pine with a green tinge to them which I assume is a treatment. Is this all that traditional floor boards are? Pine, that is sanded and varnished?

Thanks

1. Chipboard.
2. Yes.
3. Usually.

Cheers
Richard

 

[Deluks]

Old floorboards are a much better floor than chipboard panels. Unless they're really bad try and hang on to them. The green stuff is likely to be a woodworm treatment, probably done years ago.
As you say insulation between floors will help soundproofing, recommended. But the gaps between boards are also an issue, it is wise to overboard the floorboards with hardboard or 6mm plywood, see this thread for more info:

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=257653


If you are hell bent on replacing then T&G plywood is available for flooring. three times the price of chipboard, ten times better as a floor.

To be fair though you can use 22mm chip in a bedroom if there aren't any water pipes running beneath, bathroom or kitchen though you do not want chipboard.

T&G products should be screwed every 200mm and glued on all joints. a layer of silicone over the joists, (that's been left to cure before laying) will reduce squeaks.

While the boards are up replace any cables that may be there, if they are very old.

 

[JohnD]

chipboard is a terrible material, especially as a floor.

I recently replaced a cracked and sagging chipboard floor with 18mm ply. I was able to get it at Wickes with a nice reddish hardwood face, which I have stained and varnished, faked up to look like planking. I paid something like £25 per 8x4 sheet, as I bought more than 4.

They were cut to 8x2 to make them easier to carry upstairs, and fixed with countersunk screws.

It is not T&G, though any short joins have been nogged, but it is far quieter and more rigid than the old chipboard. Not being T&G makes them easy to lift to get at cables or pipes in future. I put in 170mm of loft mineral wool insulation, which has muffled airbourne sound. The denser fibreglass batts were not the right width, so there would have been a lot of wastage, and they are also far thinner (though heavy). I used Knauf mineral wool which is treated to prevent dust and loose fibres. I had been worried as I have had problems with dust from the old yellow fibreglass.

I also renewed the old skirting and architrave, and I am very pleased with the result. Must admit I got a local joiner in, working to my instructions as although I am careful on detailing, I am a slow worker.

 

[Deluks]

I got a local joiner in, working to my instructions as although I am careful on detailing

I expect you were standing over him the whole time John, making sure he didn't put any of his wet washing on your rads

 

[JohnD]

"It's a pleasure to work for someone who knows exactly what he wants" he said.

 

[HERTS P&D]

"It's a pleasure to work for someone who knows exactly what he wants" he said.

Thats what he said to your face...............down the pub he said 'some old git wouldn't leave him alone, he was always on my back. Not working for him again!!!!'

All said in jest dear John.

Andy