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Original poster

has anyone done anything successful to block up the draughty gaps in wooden floorboards?

41 replies

Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 11:10

our cellar is below our front room and though it has a proper underdrawn ceiling, there is no insulation so you can feel cold air coming up through the gaps in the floorboards upstairs

we made a decision to do wooden floors because with dd's disability, and walking with a frame or crutches, it means it's really hard to keep clean - she can't wipe her wheels at the door, for example

dh has mentioned putting a line of PVA down; has anyone tried anything (and did it look shit )

we're going to be doing it ourselves, and I just can't face anything that has anything to do with sanding

anyone?

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yomellamoHelly · 06/09/2008 11:27

Take up floorboards and relay closer together?
Take up floorboards and put down insulation?
Top with laminate?
The professionals make a paste of the sawdust obtained from sanding the floors back and pack that in to the gap, though over time it's liable to fall down the gap.

themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 11:30

we eneded up laying laminate on top. with a load of insulation between.
it was so daraughty and lots of dust came up too we found.

MatNanPlus · 06/09/2008 11:37

Can you insulate the ceiling?

Other though is to use the expanding foam if the gaps in the floorboards are big enough to push the 'straw' into and you could do small bursts to form a sealing layer rather than fill to the top of the floorboards.

If that makes sense?

Then if you sanded the floors you could mix the shavings with PVA and feed into the gaps (icing bag is good) to give a filled/solid look to the floor?

marmadukescarlet · 06/09/2008 11:40

There is a product called gripfill which is an expanding filler, it comes in several colours.

MLWfirsttimemum · 06/09/2008 11:56

You could use the filler they use on boats to fill the gaps in the decking. It is black rubber chaulking, I used that in my old flat and it worked a treat (and was very easy to use). The advantage is that since it is rubberised it moves with the floorboards and doesn't crack or anything. You'd have to buy it in a boat/marine shop though.

FluffyMummy123 · 06/09/2008 11:56

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 11:57

hmm wonder about the filler

tbh - to be very honest - it needs to be something simple, and quick and that dh won't fiddle about in wickes looking at stuff for years, and think about talking to a builder, and faff about some more, and then we are still blardy freezing

gawd love him

we have so much on our plate at the moment

tho I do agree mildmannered, dust does come up. But I'd never get laminate past him. God no. He is a freaky wood fiend.

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Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 11:58

MLW the boat stuff - is it actually black? that would look a bit odd, I think, though I love the idea

cod we have plastic windows. bog off

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FluffyMummy123 · 06/09/2008 11:59

Message withdrawn

themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 11:59

how about proper wood flooring then? or too expensive?

Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:00

he bought a rug

it was white ffs, we had to freecycle it, it had tyre marks all across it every day the pillock

yes it was nice, but it didn't reach under the sofa, and the cold air is coming up from all over the room. If you go in there from the back room - nice new oak floor laid over concrete - the temperature drops

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Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:01

mms yes

we have no more budget left for this house

we had it completely gutted 3 years ago, went massively over budget, and we still are waiting for someone to come and put us a new roof on teh downstairs kitchen because it leaks

and we are having to pay again because the old builders went bust so no come-back

it is something in a tube from Wickes, budget-wise

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FluffyMummy123 · 06/09/2008 12:04

Message withdrawn

themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 12:05

ok so the oak floor is laid over concrete?

can you lift it and lay insulation and then lay it again? are you handy ?

Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:09

no oak floor in a different room

cod you sound like my mother

she would have the whole house covered in grubby bits of underfelt stuck down with duct tape

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Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:10

room in question is original pine floorboards

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themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 12:11

aah sorry got confused.

ok -i agree with cod-buy a really big rug.
we have a big kelim style one-lots of colour and pattern and it doesn't show any dirt at all.

go to wickes and ask what they reccommend.

Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:17

ooh

and a nice man

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Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:18

partic like 'make nice cup of tea' can do that

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MatNanPlus · 06/09/2008 12:20

Would it not be easier to tackle the cellar ceiling as you can do anything and not see it, maybe plastic/tarpaulin to stop air coming up?

MatNanPlus · 06/09/2008 12:21

is the cellar ceiling the sort you could take done insulate and then replace?

Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:22

cellar is a room

a cold room, but still a room

taking ceiling off and ruining it not an option

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Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:23

I like look of that on-a-roll stuff

at least for now

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MatNanPlus · 06/09/2008 12:32

That stop Gap looks good how wide are the gaps Cappuccino - says useful from 1-8mm wide - but no reason why you couldn't shove 2 rows down there

Original poster
Cappuccino · 06/09/2008 12:34

they're not over 8mm I don't think

it does look good, doesn't it?

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