Health check
Expert Roger Hunt advises on repairing original wood flooring
QWhat should be considered when sanding floors? Where the decision is taken to sand, ensure the floor is not too thin. Solid wood floors can be sanded four or five times, while engineered floors are thinner and may be sanded two or three times. The surface area must be free of furniture and the floor has to be dry and not have protruding nails. If possible, remove doors that open into the room.
QThe floorboards have woodworm, so how should this be dealt with?
The best way to deal with beetle infestation is to use a boron-based treatment. You should change the flooring only if the wood is damaged to its core, which will make the plank unstable and may cause it to splinter.
QHow should gaps between floorboards be filled? Where the floor is being sanded, the leftover residue from the sanding can be mixed with a filler gel and used to fill the gaps so they are the same colour as the boards. Alternatively, filler gel may be used on its own. If the gaps are bigger, wood slivers can be gently tapped into place, using woodwork adhesive where necessary.
QThe floor is very bouncy. Is this something we should be concerned about?
This problem is most likely to be caused by decay due to damp or beetle infestation, which can result in weakening of the structure. The cause of the problem should be identified and rectified and, if the damage is serious, repairs to the joists and floor undertaken.
QWhat is the best way to fix squeaking or loose floorboards?
This is often caused by the subfloor not being correctly levelled and may need to be rectified by a builder. Floorboards were traditionally fixed with ‘cut’ nails designed to minimise squeaks, and these should be used wherever possible. Alternatively, boards can be fixed with screws; this is a good solution if there are fragile ceilings below the floor or if boards are likely to have to be lifted again in
the future for electrical works or piping.
QHow can damaged boards or missing pieces be repaired?
If the wooden boards are scratched or marked by spills it is usually possible to sand these out. Small missing pieces can be carefully matched in by a skilled carpenter. Larger areas may require replacement boards.
QWhat are the primary concerns when repairing parquet floors?
Loose blocks are the most common parquet flooring issue due to humidity, wear and tear, and high traffic over time. Wood floor adhesive gradually loses its strength and, especially when the flooring experiences contraction, parquet blocks can lift. Fixing this is not that hard. Be sure when lifting loose blocks to mark their position or take photos to ensure they go back in the correct place. When removing the piece, there will be dirt and debris from the glueing product used previously in the space so be sure to clean everything and then apply a primer. When it is dry, spread a high-quality adhesive on the backs of the removed blocks and refit them. Don’t worry if there are gaps – this is normal when relaying parts of a wooden floor.
QWhat are the main considerations when buying reclaimed timber flooring?
It is important to know where your flooring is coming from. There are no overarching grading standards for antique wood, so some can be low quality and not properly dry. Check a supplier’s reputation; don’t rely on small samples; get photos and, if possible, go to look at it. Ask if the wood is kiln-dried, what that process entails and how the supplier ensures that the moisture content is consistent. Check also what the variation is between the boards, in terms of width and length.
– supplier of wooden floor oils and waxes.
Tel: 01544 388332; auropaint.co.uk
– easily installed floorboard gap filler. Tel: 0800 433 4282; draughtex.co.uk
– floor finishing products. Tel: 029 2034 0323; fiddes.co.uk
– floor fitting and sanding. Tel: 020 8830 9782; flooringfirst.co.uk
– supplying wood care products since 1912. Tel: 01797 367555; liberon.co.uk
– natural protection and cleaning products. Tel: 01296 481220; osmouk.com
– quick and easy draughtproofing system. Tel: 029 2021 3736; stopgaps.com
– Architectural salvage directory. salvo.co.uk
– produces a publication on floor care. Tel: 020 7377 1644; spab.org.uk