What would you do with these floorboards?

[JeanPaulGagtier]

I've had a bit of an energetic brainwave to get rid of the 20 year old carpet on the landing! There are quite big gaps between the boards. Should I be moving the boards closer together? Also am I correct in thinking once I sand them down, it is Caulk I need to use in the gaps?

Floorboards

Those look in pretty good condition.
Don't move the boards. I would get someone in. I have done floors before and it is quite hard work.
Are they tongue and groove or do all boards have gaps at the sides?
The gaps can be filled with wooden wedges which you then sand flush or string/rope types caulk which you hammer into the gaps. Unless there is a heat escaping issue, I probably would leave them.

Have you considered how slippery the floor will be once sanded and varnished and that it is at the top of a staircase?

I think you’re a bit nuts to consider sanding floorboards whilst living in the house at the same time, especially in a landing area where you can’t contain the dust at all - but that’s by the by!

As previous poster said, wooden wedges are an option, though I like the Bona range of floorboard products: there are various fillers for differently trafficked areas and non-slip finishing products.

They all have gaps at the sides. The whole house needs work and I can't afford to do much all at once, so dust it will have to be. All the rooms have doors so that will have to do. I have more old carpet that needs taking up in 2 bedrooms, so now considering doing all at once and hiring a sander. Would you say that is more of a specialist job or something I can do solo (sanding machine) - I've used hand held before and know to go with the grain etc.

Thanks for the recommendation of Bona, I'll look at that now.

I tried a sander and it was really difficult and I wish I had either paid someone or bought a handheld belt sander myself. The industrial ones are really heavy and the sanding belt kept breaking on ours so I went through about 40 belts in two days trying to get it finished before we had to take the sander back. You can still see the damage it did to the floor.

Also if you are doing a whole house I would strongly recommend doing a room at a time and leaving the hall till last.

I’ve done this and it is true that it creates an ungodly mess. I did a hallway and two bedrooms. The industrial sized sanders that you hire are about 50kgs and create an enormous noise. You’ll need ear protection and ffp3 mask. You will go through a lot of sanding sheets as a pp said, but you can minimise this by making sure the floor is free of raised nails, staples etc first - these are what will rip the sandpaper. They are in good shape so I think you’ll get a good finish. If hiring the sander make sure you get the edger too - hss will usually rent in a combo pack. Also buy way more sheets of sandpaper than you think you need as you can always return the spare. It is a totally doable DIY job and many have done it before you. Ours came out really nice and varnished them with a dark oak stain.

It's one job I usually get a professional to do. Their sanders tend to be better than the hired ones and create almost no dust. I don't fill between boards and go for a clear matt varnish for a light look.

Me and my DB did thus many years ago with little/ no DIY practice.
@NonmagicMike is right you need make sure all the nails are below the surface of the wood use a punch or a old screwdriver to push them down .

We used a hired belt sander and yes you need lots of sanding belts .

Once we sanded the dirt off ( which clogs the belts something rotten) we saved the clean sawdust and mixed it with strong glue to fill some of the gaps .
But it's fiddley because there was nothing below the boards to stop it falling through.

Once you have sanded the boards will mark easily so definitely no shoes or rubber soled slippers.

We used yacht varnish as the area was high traffic , but it is very very high voc so need all the windows open for days.

But above all , the dust , oh my god the dust I am fairly sure it made up about 10% of out diet each day .

I did all my upstairs bedrooms with a hired sander and hand sander. Absolutely fine.

Just a word of warning, if you're in an attached house bare floorboards will cause huge noise for your neighbours.