Floorboards

[stella]

Hi this has nothing to do with gardening but I need some DIY advice please.:confused. I live in an old cottage and we have taken the carpet up and exposed the floorboards. However there is a gap between most of them ranging from tiny to bigish. Does anyone know what I can fill this with as it is a bit draughty. I have asked in a shop and they said woodfiller and it is �5.00 per tube and I would need a lot of tubes. I dont have any sawdust so can not mix a gluey paste up. Ideas please

[Rhona]

In our old house, we had some lovely floorboards once we removed the carpets, but same as you - some gaps, including gaping bits around radiators etc. We were told to to make a dry-ish papier mache (sp) type thing out of glue and newspaper; pack it into the gaps, then just top with filler and smooth off whilst damp; then varnish.

Worked an absolute treat. It makes sense to be careful not to walk with heels on the repaired bits (I got told off frequently about this), but otherwise fine.

[Bigmallly]

You need something like this Stella, it's expanding foam that can be cut with a blade when set or can be sanded.

Polycell Expanding Foam Polyfilla Yellow, 5010567001018

[jayjay giant]

Did i not reply to this earlier ?
I think I am losing the plot !

[Rhona]

You need something like this Stella, it's expanding foam that can be cut with a blade when set or can be sanded.

Polycell Expanding Foam Polyfilla Yellow, 5010567001018

Yep - that's what we used too. We used that in the smaller gaps - we just found we needed something more with the bigger ones.

[becslb]

what about The home of STOPGAP - The simple solution to draughty floorboards

[sweetiepea]

Sorry BM and Rhona, I don't agree with you about the gap filler. I tried the foam and hated the results. I also found the wood filler expensive, and the colour matches were poor. In the end I had to use sawdust. Granted, it was difficult to get hold of but perseverance paid off. I mixed it with the varnish I was using on the rest of the floor and the results are great. I've still got half a black bag full if it's of use to anyone.

[lizzylemon]

I did ours last year and I recommend you go to a builders store (my local ones are Travis Perkins and Ridgeons for example) and get some flexible floor woodfiller if that's the road you want to go down - it worked a treat for me.

The stores are for professionals in the building trade so it's sold in much bigger quantities for a much better price than normal DIY stores. They're not scary, normally really nice and even better if you're female (it cheers their day up no end )

I brought a 500ml pot for about �10 (no more than) and had stacks left over. It needs to be flexible because wood moves all the time and it won't crake or start braking out of the gaps.

Also, a really good thing to remember - it might be very tempting to slap the filler on but I would advise being as neat as possible as it saves with the sanding after. I alternated between my finger and a scraper

For the gap around the edge of the room between floor and skirting board, I recommend a silicone seal - same stuff that you use around the bath etc. It makes a totally waterproof and air tight seal and is very easy to use - a tube is about 6 pounds and you can probably borrow a gun for it.

Its time consuming and a lot of work but really worth it. Good luck

[lizzylemon]

Sorry BM and Rhona, I don't agree with you about the gap filler. I tried the foam and hated the results. I also found the wood filler expensive, and the colour matches were poor. In the end I had to use sawdust. Granted, it was difficult to get hold of but perseverance paid off. I mixed it with the varnish I was using on the rest of the floor and the results are great. I've still got half a black bag full if it's of use to anyone.

My dads a chippie (he'd kill me if I said that in front of him) and he's a 100% behind sweetiepea and as hes currently visiting for a brew you have the, ahem, 'benefit' of his wisdome .

I second the foam stuff - I only tried it on the alcatrave round the door and I just couldn't get it to work, I ended up scrapping it all out.

Colour match wasn't a problem for me as I liked the contrast of the cream coloured filler and the floor boards but it might be a problem for you.

(Oh! Dad says to sand the floor, or area of, before choosing the filler colour. The colour of the boards after they're sanded is vastly different to the before version but I'm pretty sure you've already done that already)

[stella]

Hey you grapes are fantastic I knew I could rely on you all for help. Many thanks

[Hilary B]

Just remember that floorboards in an old cottage need to 'breathe'. The draught means there is plenty of air moving around below, but check the airbricks, because if those get blocked, having stopped the draughts between the boards, you may make just the sort of conditions that suit rot and woodworm!
It is because of the ventilation issue that I would NEVER use that foam in an old cottage!