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Property/DIY

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Broken Floorboards !

8 replies

bogglepop · 26/06/2018 18:12

We had a dodgy electrician come and move a load of plug sockets in our house last year. He did a terrible job and butchered a load of our floorboards (along with not doing a safe electrical job). We've sorted the electrics now.
We need each room preparing for decorating anyway, but i'm stumped at what order to do things - replace broken floor boards first? then skirting, then plaster? Lots of online info says plaster first but i'm not sure ? Some of the floor boards are broken near the skirting so I know this makes it a bigger job. Plus who do I get in to to the floorboards- is it very specialist? Novice here!

OP posts:
Catter · 26/06/2018 20:57

Hmm Hmm I'm not an expert myself but I have done lots of house repairs. I agree with your advice to do the plaster first. My thought would be to start at the higher parts of the room and work downwards. Replacing floorboards is an easy job you can diy. I ripped mine up to feed the virgin cable through to the centre of the house rather than have it surface mounted. It literally is a case of just pulling up the broken boards, cutting and nailing new ones in. to remove the broken ones you'll need to jemmy them out with an old chisel in the gaps and hit it with a mallet. Start a couple of inches from where you can see the nails. New boards can be cut to size and nailed in place with proper floor nails (they're square). Nail positions are dictated by the joists below. You don't say what remedial work the skirting needs? Just a sand/fill/paint maybe? As I said I'm no expert, I'm just speaking from personal experience. I expect Piglet might be along soon and he knows soooooo much. Grin

Catter · 26/06/2018 20:58

How about posting a pic of the damage?

bogglepop · 26/06/2018 21:32

good info thanks Catter
Yes i've seen lots of useful posts by Piglet John when i've been browsing DIY posts on here.

I'll try an post a pic of a couple of the areas shortly.

Also, would you buy new floorboards or go to a scrap yard?

I was under the impression from reading other DIY websites that if the broken floorboards are near/go under the skirting, then usually that means removing the skirting in order to get the broken boards out etc? is this what you experienced or not?
Thanks!

OP posts:
Squirreltamer · 26/06/2018 22:02

If your boards are your final floor covering. Definitely buy old reclaimed board of a same thickness/width they should be around £1 - 2 for pine per foot.

The only issues you may come across are

If your boards are old tongue and grove you’ll need to cut off the tongues to get a singular board up without possibly breaking the one next to it. Or jimmy up a few slightly around the area to slide the one out if not at the end of a run.

The only issues I could see arising if under the skirting is
A) the skirting is really tight to the floor and nailed behind.
B) the wall has been built on top of the floor - issue on some internal walls in older houses - mine has two such walls ughhhh

I would get a tradesman in if any of the above. Most floor sanding companies will do the above. But like most carpenters/floor sanders they may be booked a few weeks in advanced.

If not your final covering and neither of the 2 above issues apply I’d do it myself.

Squirreltamer · 26/06/2018 22:04

But I would start at the top and work my way down. Expect if your having the floor sanded then I would leave glossing skirting till last as it may get a few knocks.

Squirreltamer · 26/06/2018 22:05

You’re.... ahhh!

Sillybilly1234 · 26/06/2018 22:09

Skirting boards last after everything else sorted.

Catter · 27/06/2018 07:32

Getting boards out that are near the skirting isn't always a tough job. I've had to do this myself within the last 6 months. In my house there's been enough wiggle room between the bottom of the skirting and the board to jemmy it out with the hammer & chisel. Also, they might not be nailed that end, some of mine weren't. Post a good up close picture so we can see where the nails are.

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