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Jobs to do while floorboards are up

7 replies

tentative3 · 10/03/2018 15:47

Built in wardrobes ripped out and laminate flooring removed prior to electrical and plumbing work. While the floorboards are up for the work I'm planning on putting in some insulation between the joists. Is there anything else I should consider checking/doing while the floor is up? This is a first floor room in a c.1840 3 storey terrace.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 10/03/2018 16:05

any wiring for new sockets. Any pipes for new or larger radiators. Repair or fill any holes or gaps in the ceiling, e.g. around pipes or cables. If you have downlighters (vom) fit smoke hoods with intumescent linings, or rip them out and plaster the holes.

Remove the skirting boards (with care) so they can be refitted on top of your new boards

stuff insulation especially well round the edges of the room, against the walls (there may be a joist running parallel to the wall but the should be a gap. Hoover out this gap with your builder's vac first). This is because draughts usually come through cracks in walls or around joists and blow up through the gap under the skirting.

Any visible holes or gaps in the brickwork, hoover out, spray with water, and inject expanding foam (the pink fire grade is worth it IMO). It will prevent draughts and muffle noise a bit, especially in party walls, and prevent passage of smoke or smells.

There are people who say it is not worth insulating under a first floor as there is no heat loss (apart from draughts). I say it may help, and will slightly reduce noise. There are heavy grade insulating batts at builders merchants that reduce noise more than loft rolls, because noise reduction is proportional to mass of the barrier. I recommend quilt treated with Ecose, which prevents it shedding irritant dust and fibres while you work. It is brown, not yellow, and made by Knauf though also sold under own-brands. It will say "Ecose" on the packaging.

If you have a Lath and Plaster ceiling, hoover it out well with your builders vac (not a domestic one) and ask a plasterer if it is going to fall down soon.

Electric cables can lie on top of insulation, or under it, but must not be surrounded.

Fit a floor safe in a corner away from the door.

tentative3 · 10/03/2018 16:45

Brilliant. Thank you so much for that list!

I've seen the reports that there is no point insulating a first floor but I would love some noise reduction so figure that since the floorboards are coming up anyway it's worth a go. If it doesn't do much it's not the end of the world. I have been looking at the triple deck type floor you can lay on joists but think perhaps that is overkill and will go with between the joists, relaying original boards and then good underlay beneath the eventual carpet. The skirts are awful so have gone to the top but will salvage in other rooms.

Checking the brickwork is a great tip and I had never thought of a safe! Might do that elsewhere, perhaps. Maybe downstairs.

Thank you for the info on electrical cables. I wasn't sure about those and insulation.

OP posts:
didireallysaythat · 10/03/2018 18:41

Take photos before you put the boards back down - if you need to find a cable again it can save lifting multiple boards.

Frogletmamma · 10/03/2018 18:44

Look for lost gerbils (we had to do this)

tentative3 · 10/03/2018 20:19

Good idea on the cables! And the gerbil...

OP posts:
MiaowTheCat · 11/03/2018 07:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chris2x1 · 11/03/2018 08:39

Just about to do this as well!

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