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Carpentry & Joinery

Replacing rotten joists and floorboards - chipboard then flooring or floorboards direct onto joists

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.20 PM

I have pulled the laminate floor up in our new house to find very wet floorboards and sagging corners. I have pulled up the floorboards to find the joists need replacing (it is just mud below the joists). I have got advice about the damp and how to resolve it, however I'm having a huge dilemma as I hate the look of new pine floorboards and I'm yet to find a finish that makes them look good! (If you have one let me know!). It's been suggested that I lay chipboard and then an oak floor on top. However I'm concerned this won't let the floor breath and 5yrs down the line we end up with more problems - is this likely? For floorboards I've looked into reclaimed oak which whilst expensive might be best from a harder wearing point of view. In an ideal world we would chipboard as it's looking like the cheaper option but I'm not willing to do it if it's going to cause issues in the future. Just need some opinions.

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2 Answers

Crest Carpentry

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Downham Market

Hi sacha00, Laying chipboard, OSB, PLY ect is absolutely fine as long as you have ventilation underneath the floor. So unless you have put some in recently it sounds like you don't. My advise would be to put some in either using airbricks or breathable material. It sounds like you want chipboard so i would advise you to glue and screw it down. then you are free to lay whatever floorcovering down you please. If you want floorboards to allow the moisture to vent through the floor you can still lay another floor on top. Also another option is a floating floor so look on youtube for some videos. ChilternCarpentry

Answered26 April 2016

Scott L Carpentry

Rating: 5 out of 5

Herne Bay

Tongue and groove chipboard onto new properly treated joists is an effective and cheap method. The main issue is what's going on under joist level. Damp proof the ground below and ventilate properly and the cause of concern is dealt with. Then you can install a new floor to your liking.

Answered30 October 2018