Wood floors - new boards vs new floor laid on existing boards?

[EldonAve]

We are still debating getting a new wood floor

Our existing boards are in poor condition and well beyond resanding

Local flooring co said they would simply lay the new floor over the old boards

Is this good/bad?

New boards seems more sensible but more mess and presumably takes longer and involves a skip

Any advice welcome!

As long as the floor isn't too uneven and isn't rotten, then laying new floor on top of the boards should be fine - the fitter will presumably screw down any wobblers. You can put down chipboard and so on but it shouldn't be necessary unless you want to do one of the special sound insulation ones. Worst bit, ime, was having to replace (and then have fitted and painted) all the lovely Edwardian skirting board because it all split when we removed it to allow for the new floor .

if you're having a new floor i would seriously consider insulation underneath. we have all wood floors and our house is pretty draughty. chipboard under the new floor would do the job to physically stop draughts i reckon, but you could also use proper insulation. that's what i would do...

Agree with lalalonglegs will be OK to lay new floor on top of old boards. Just make sure you get a good underlay, your floor supplier should be able to supply.

Is there any benefit to simply getting new floorboards instead?

No.

thanks

Actually that's a lie - putting down new boards will save you having to cut off all the bottoms of the doors and you may be able to get away with not removing the skirtings etc.

Doors won't be an issue as ours are already too short!

Thanks for the lip tip

Did you have additional insulation put down?