Would I be bonkers to lay floorboards?

[LisaVanderpump1]

When I bought my fixer-upper ground floor Victorian flat, I was really hoping I'd uncover lovely floorboards when I ripped up some of the moth-eaten, smoky smelling carpets. Sadly, all that was under there was chipboard. It looks like when the property was flipped and extended 15 odd years ago, all the floorboards were removed (probably because that was easier for a developer than restoring them).

The flat has cheap, thin laminate everywhere that's not in very good nick and needs replacing. I'd love to replace this with straight edged floorboards. I just think they're so much more in keeping with the place, look nicer, harder wearing and can be cheaper than laminate/vinyl etc. Also, because they're not tongue and groove, it'd be much easier to get under the floor if needed. I'm pretty sure that under the chipboard is insulated, so I'm not so worried about it being drafty. They also look like they'd be pretty easy to fit, as they basically just screw into the joists.

So am I missing something? Is this a completely bonkers/really bad idea? Or just something that people don't do but there's no reason not to?

[CellophaneFlower]

I love the look of floorboards, if you can get reclaimed ones, even better.

Perhaps most older houses have them already, that's why people don't tend to lay them themselves and just restore them?

[Ellaskitchensimple]

Loads of people do it, not quite sure why you think it's 'bonkers' tbh

[Diyextension]

Floorboard is tongue and groove for a reason, flat edge boards will flex on the edges when trod on , the wider the joist spacing the more they will bend.

[Yarrawonga]

If you aren’t on the ground floor, your neighbours might hate you for it.

[purplecorkheart]

Nope not if you are upper floor not fair on the neighbours below. You should not have bought an upper floor flat if you wanted wooden boards

[Diyextension]

The first line she wrote says ground floor.

[RemindMeToRemember]

When we lifted our carpet up we were thrilled to find floorboards…until we got to October and we were freezing cold! The amount of work that would have been involved in filling the gaps, sanding, restaining etc would have meant weeks of cold so we just laid carpets as it was quicker.

[purplecorkheart]

What is upper ground floor? Sorry I have never heard the term so assumed there was a basement flat

[Jellybean23]

Purplecorkheart, the flat is a fixer-upper. The flat is on the ground floor.

[purplecorkheart]

Sorry, not living in the UK and never heard the term so I utterly misunderstood and thought there was a flat beneath. Once there is no one under you it depends on your taste and budget. There are some great laminates out there so I would not judge by what is currently there

[Rollercoaster1920]

Just lay engineered wood. You get wood, but no gaps for draughts, dirt and mice. We have Oak engineered wood flooring, it's been down 10 years and is great.

[LisaVanderpump1]

@Ellaskitchensimple

Loads of people do it, not quite sure why you think it's 'bonkers' tbh

I've seen loads of people restoring floorboards or repairing the odd damaged or broken ones, but not seen anyone installing them all over a property when they aren't there anymore. So I thought there might be a reason, but it seems not really.

[ACynicalDad]

Does anyone live on a lower ground beneath you - the boards may be a fire break.

[LisaVanderpump1]

@ACynicalDad

Does anyone live on a lower ground beneath you - the boards may be a fire break.

No - I'm on the lowest level.