Under Bath Flooring

[Stuart]

As part of my bathroom renovations I am relaying the floorbaords as some of them have been replaced with newer boards and as I want to get them all sanded I want them all to be of the same vintage so they match .I am proposing to lift the ones that go under the bath and use them and replace the parts directly under the bath as they will not be seen . I got some yesterday from Wickes but on getting them home I found them to be very light in weight which doesn't matter so much but they are a bit cupped . I'll probably take them back .As an alternative to getting decent boards from a timber merchant ( it would be a very small order) I was wondering if I could use chipboard .I presume that I could as modern homes must use this in under bath situations so I guess it is ok .

Stuart

[John]

My 20 year old house has chipboard upstairs = but thankfully the builder had sense to use tongue and groove real wood in the bathroom. Chipboard is useless one it gets wet.

[gort]

I was wondering if I could use chipboard .I presume that I could as

If you do don't lay it all in one sheet, because if you do it odds on you will need to get under it next week to repair a leaking joint.

Dave

[visionset]

mmm timber in the bathroom not a great idea. I have exposed floorboards every where except on the stairs (quieter) and in the bathroom (moisture). But if you do go ahead other options are timber from reclamation yard. We have one run by the council as they rip down old buildings and actually the wood is cheaper (and obviously better) than new. Then you don't need to move boards. Most new boards end up cupped these days, its the economy cut to the timber, less waste from the pattern they now use, but poorer stability. But if it is under the bath, does it matter? Or is it fancy no panel bath?

[Stuart]

Thankfully there are no pipes nor wires under the part of the bath that I am dealing with so that's not a problem .All the pipes are at the taps end and coming from beyond the bath

Stuart

[Stuart]

Hopefully it won't get wet under the bath ..crosses fingers ..

Stuart

[Stuart]

No ..The bath does have a panel all round so nothing underneath will be seen .. You are probably right ...a bit of cupping won't really matter where it isn't seen .....I might still go ahead and sort out the boards while I am at it tho' so that if I do decide in the future to lay vinyl they will be even and with little or no gaps ..

Stuart

[Andrew Gabriel]

You use special chipboard for potentially damp areas. This doesn't rot when wet.

[The Natural Philosopher]

My upstairs floors are all chipboard. Leaks make it swell, but it goes back when it dries out more or less.

In actual fact, there is no need for ANY flooring under as bath if its enclosed.

[Stuart]

Although it helps for sound deadening I suppose but you do need flooring where the bath feet are situated otherwise it might be problematic ....lol

Stuart

[<me9]

Also it's worth having a reasonably watertight floor to contain any leaks, so that the frst warning of a problem /isn't/ the failure of the ceiling below!

[John]

Put some hardwood under the feet to stop them endenting the floor and causing the bath to settle.

John

[Stuart]

And the neighbour knocking on your door ..lol

[The Natural Philosopher]

My experience is that if the bath is enclosed, the presence of the floor makes no difference to where the leak first becomes apparent. The ceiling below is always no 1 prime favourite