Replacing floorboards.....

[pauljwilliams]

Hi there...

SWMBO has decided she wants varnished floorboards in the bedroom (as part of a complete top-to-bottom redecoration).

Anyways, I had a quick look under the carpet to find that the existing floorbaords are completely messed up.

Things like rewirings, central heating installation etc have meant that there are lots of cross-cuts, all the tongues and grooves have been destroyed etc...

ANyways...how easy is it to simply rip up and start again?

From my (naive, possibly) POV, it would simply be a case of rip off the

skirting boards then start at one side of the room, removing the old boards 2 or 3 at a time, then cutting new boards to size and nailing them to the joists. Then add (new) skirting boards to the walls (possibly after getting a plasterer in to fix any damage caused by removing the old ones...). Finish off with some varnish or wax....

On the surface this seems like it would be quite a cheap job too....

So the question is - is it as simple as this? What pitfalls have i missed?

ANy tips?

[The Natural Philosopher]

I think it is basically that simple.

[Richard Conway]

What are you going to do when SWMBO afterwards decides that she wants x project doing that requires you to get under those boards again? It will happen.

[Cicero]

================= It isn't a difficult job at all and you shouldn't need to remove the skirtings. I did all my downstairs rooms about 2 years ago. With care you can remove the old boards from under the skirting and then slide the new boards into place. Take care (obviously!!) when you're working near wiring / piping etc. I would suggest that you use a good nail gun rather than hammer and nails. The reason for this is that you're less likely to damage the ceiling of the room below and it's much quicker. It took me about 4 days per room but that included repairing bits of the dwarf walls - not necessary in upstairs rooms. Make sure you make proper access hatches if required.

Cic.

[kajr]

Unless, like in my house, when the house was built they wacked a few nails though the skirting at an angle into the fllorboards for good measure.

Kevin

[pauljwilliams]

Then she'll be inserted under them too.....

[Richard Conway]

Harsh, but fair!

[Chris McBrien]

If you are buying new Tounge & Grooved floor boarding do get in in the house for a few weeks to dry out/aclimatise first, if possible of course.

A good tip I heard regarding laying. Look at the end grain of the board. The grain will be either a 'cup' or a 'cap' or depending how you hold it a ( or a ) This is the way it was cut from the tree. When laying the boards put a 'cup' shape next to a 'cap' shape so that the end view of the boards give a ~~~~~~~ type of sequence. This helps when the wood finally dries out and starts to rise at the ends of a 'cup' and droop at the ends of a 'cap'.

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[<me9]

Trouble is the tounges and grooves will probably no longer align.

[Rob Morley]

Do it from underneath - it's easier to patch plaster :-)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Depending on the house design, you might find they go under the internal walls. Which can make complete replacement tricky, as they might not have a convenient joist at the wall.

[Grunff]

Yes, all of our upstairs internal walls are built onto floorboards.

[<me9]

And the stiffness of the floor overall may be compromised. Having all the joints in the floorboards between the same two joists isn't a good idea.