Forum Topic

Floorboard expert needed

There are floorboards on my landing which have got very creaky, also spongy underfoot and I would like to replace them. Pipes run under these boards, both water and gas, so I need someone who really knows what they're doing. Any recommendations please?

Susan Kelly ● 4750d15 Comments

I have a quick and easy fix for you there - just pop a couple of bricks under each leg - bingo - room for your guzunda!

Tony Colliver ● 4687d

My pleasure.I guess living around here since birth you get to know the good firms/individuals and, equally, those who will never cross your threshold.Glad that you got it sorted.

Nigel Brooks ● 4687d

Yes, I shall aim to do that before Christmas.

Susan Kelly ● 4687d

That's good, another result.Now where are you going for quote for your new stair/landing carpets?  Nigel recently gave a recommendation for a good local carpet supplier/fitter. He seems to know the reliable firms.

Gerry Tan ● 4688d

I finally got my finger out and had Mark Preedy round to do the floorboards on Monday. He was in and out in two hours and it's made a big difference. Thanks for the recommendation, Nigel.Next stop: new stair/landing carpet.

Susan Kelly ● 4688d

Well, if I borrow it, that's going to make for an interesting punch this year ...

Susan Kelly ● 4749d

No probs Susan, my 'goosunder' doen't mind being a 'beside'. Its an early Victorian one and we only use it once a year...at Christmas, to hold the rum-punch for the neighbours.

Gerry Tan ● 4749d

That's very kind, Gerry, but there is no 'under' to our bed.

Susan Kelly ● 4749d

I've got an old Victorian 'goosunder' you can have, if that's any help.

Gerry Tan ● 4749d

They won't be on view but covered with fitted carpet. I just want to be able to go to the loo in the night without the constant thought in the back on my mind that one of them's about to give way under my feet!

Susan Kelly ● 4749d

Proper flooring nails will tend to split old (and therefore dry) boards in my experience.Granted, to look nice if the boards will be exposed, then you are going to have to be very accurate with the screwing (and probably use brass screws as well).

Tony Colliver ● 4749d

If you have bare Floorboard don't screw them use proper flooring nails.

Tony Maxey ● 4750d

The boards have had to be cut up over the years to get at the various pipes, which may be the main cause of the trouble. For that reason, I think they need to be replaced by intact ones (even if they eventually get cut up again) rather than just screwed down. I shall try Mr Preedy.

Susan Kelly ● 4750d

Assuming that the pipes were laid after the floor so it had to be disturbed to do so then the chances are that it is the laying of the pipes that caused the problem.Floorboards lifted to put in new pipework and new wiring are frequently not resecured properly for the long term.It could be that all you need is somebody to screw the existing boards down.OTOH, if you are determined to replace them can I have the old ones please?  :-)(You mention your landing, so this probably doesn't apply, but if the floor is at ground level - in an entrance hall in an older property for example - then you should also consider whether the boards have become loose as a result of damp / rot in the underlying joists.  If this is the case then major work is required and simply screwing the boards back down will not suffice.)

Tony Colliver ● 4750d

A good general builder will be able to deal with this.I would recommend, without hesitation, Mark Preedy.http://www.preedybuilders.co.uk/

Nigel Brooks ● 4750d