Remedies: flooring

Original floors may remain in good condition, but should be checked for borer, rot, moisture damage or other signs of deterioration.

Particleboard and MDF

Unless particleboard or MDF flooring has had ongoing wetting from subfloor moisture, leaking pipes or overflowing baths and laundry tubs, it is likely to be in good condition. In that case, it can be polyurethaned or covered with resilient flooring.

If there is water damage (from above or below) the damaged section of floor should be replaced with board that has been treated to H3.1

If there is movement (springiness) in the floor it may be due to floor joist spans being too great for the size of the joists or the wet framing has shrunk after the flooring was installed (see remedies: foundations and subfloors). Additional bearers and joists may be required to be installed or the joists may need strengthening by adding an addition joist alongside the existing.

Where the floor is an intermediate floor this may involve the insertion of a beam under the ceiling below to provide additional support.

Squeaking floors may be remedied by:

  • Adding new fixings to the flooring - through the carpet is possible
  • tightening herringbone strutting if used and accessible.

Back to top

Timber

Timber floors should be checked for borer and rot, or other damage such as splitting, which may occur along the tongue and groove joints. Options to repair damaged boards include to:

  • replace damaged boards with matching timber (sourced from a demolition yard)
  • replace the all the flooring with new flooring
  • install overlay flooring over an existing sound floor.

If a timber floor is in good condition, it can be sanded and polyurethaned or waxed to give a durable finish.