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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!! https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1233839445 Message started by gooner4life on Feb 5^th, 2009, 1:10pm

Title: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by gooner4life on Feb 5^th, 2009, 1:10pm

My mate has a fairly new flat and his washing machine has been dripping water for a couple of years killing the chipboard floor. The kitchen will have to come out, all flooring replaced and then kitchen back in again. Any tips on removing the old flooring and fitting the new would be appreciated!

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by big_all on Feb 5^th, 2009, 1:32pm

heeelllooo and welcome life long arsenal fan ;D ;D ;D

assuming he is insured contact insurance company ;)

if not get back to us

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by gooner4life on Feb 5^th, 2009, 2:02pm

He`s not insured, didn`t think he nedded to be as top floor flat!! I`m ok with taking the kitchen out and refitting it for him and he`s pretty handy too so we think we should be able to attack it ourselves.

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by big_all on Feb 5^th, 2009, 3:43pm

insurance covers the cost off accidental dammage or theft to the building [buildings insurance] or the contents [contents insurance]

if he is lease hold he may pay for insurance to the leasholder as part of his monthly/anual payments!!!

how easy it is depends on construction
if its normal joists then fairly easy
if it concrere topped with foam it can be awkward

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by woodsmith on Feb 5^th, 2009, 5:13pm

I did one of these last year and the nails had all rusted into the joists. I just tore up the boards then cut off the nails that I couldn't pull out with an angle grinder. You need to be careful not to set the house on fire though.

The main problem comes at the walls, if they are stud partitions they are often fitted on top of the flooring and so it is easier to cut the flooring back to the last joist before the wall.

Places where the boards end up with little support can be strengthened by screwing and gluing plywood underneath.

That said you may be better off just patch repairing where the floor has gone soft, that is what I would look to do.

Plus screw rather than nail the new flooring.

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by gooner4life on Feb 5^th, 2009, 6:18pm

Thanks for tips, it`s a converted old building - converted about 6 years ago, like an old mill or something - evidentally wooden joists.
The building insurance that he pays to the freeholder of the building only covers communal areas so he`s bug**red on that one!!

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by gooner4life on Feb 9^th, 2009, 2:14pm

Would you recommend 18mm or 22mm??
And i suppose we should leave the boards in the flat for a few days before screwing em down??? To acclimatise??
Cheers

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by Zambezi on Feb 9^th, 2009, 2:28pm

18mm is the norm but probably best to see what is there. Use the same size to avoid lips/steps.
I would not bother with acclimatizing the boards, not an issue like it is with solid timber.

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by big_all on Feb 9^th, 2009, 5:34pm

another thing to remember is you boards will be swollen so if you hack a hole to measure the size make shure its on a dry bit or you will get a false reading

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by woodsmith on Feb 9^th, 2009, 6:59pm

As a rule 18mm flooring is for joist spacing of 400mm and 22mm flooring for 600mm spacing.

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by gooner4life on Feb 10^th, 2009, 10:43am

Yet again thanks chaps, very useful knowledge!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Replacing blown chipboard flooring in flat!!!!
Post by greg on Feb 22^nd, 2009, 1:00pm

Does the whole floor need replacing?

I would have thought it would only be localised damage, in which case, just replace that bit.