Dodgy floors

[Symposium]

We moved into a Victorian house 3 years ago. The uneven floors didn't particularly bother me , I've kind of got used to them. However, I've noticed that they have become much more bouncy and uneven in some areas. Seems to be mainly in the high traffic areas of the upstairs, landing and bedrooms. In the back bedroom the wardrobe has started to shake when i walk near it and I can feel the floorboards have moved/ dropped slightly in some places although it's not obvious/visible on the surface (it's carpeted). Is this something I need to investigate further? I'm reluctant to start ripping up the carpet, or can this just be normal for a very old house? It was a single old lady here for years before us and now there are of us stomping around so maybe the house is just struggling with the change!

Carpet is very easy to take up a small bit, and then put back down again. Sounds like the boards probably just need screwing down a bit more. Easy DIY job ( just don't screw through pipes of electrical cable) or you could get a handy person in.

Taking up carpets shouldn't be a bother, just have a word with the local carpet fitter who will come and refit them for you.

Then take up the carpets in the worst affected areas. From your description, I'd be looking for woodworm or some sort of rot.

The sooner you check, the sooner you can limit any damage and any repair bills. And if there's nothing wrong, the sooner you can stop worrying.

I'm wondering if it's possible to lift a bit of carpet and have a peek but the problem areas are more to the middle of the rooms rather than at the edges. Does woodworm go for the middle of floors ? I had the impression it was more common at the edges.

I'd say definitely worth investigating. There's definitely something happening - might be dead easy to fix like floorboards have just come loose with the extra wear, or it might be something more important where the joists are deteriorating, but either way it's better to know and fix it than just leave it.

You haven't had any supporting walls downstairs taken out have you? Or possibly joists weakened by "notching" to let central heating pipes pass through?

Oh I hope the joists are ok. Most of the central heating has been surface mounted so doubt that has done anything. We haven't touched any walls or anything structurally. It's had walls altered in the past, but I mean decades ago, so I really don't think it's that. It seems strange how there are areas in every room that are affected, not just one area of the house.