Your guide to home
maintenance
Maintaining Wooden Floors
Your guide to home maintenance is a series of
information leaflets that gives you all the information
you need to keep your home in tiptop condition.
Maintain
ing Wood
Wooden
en Floor
floors are
s
wood la
m
a
d
e
from
id end
floorboa
on, ca
for maxim
rds laid
um stren lled joists. The
joists are across thick pie
that can
gth. Floo
easily b
ces of
rs
supporte
can su
e rectifie
draughty
d by the ffer from minor a d by brick walls
, especia
nnoying
DIY-er. W
lly on the
draught
problem
ooden fl
gro
un
s
ooring c
requiring der the propert und floor of a p
an prov
roperty d
y. This
regular c
e
c
u
an also
leaning.
e to the
There is
through
result in
n't
a dusty
the resu an easy way to
surface
lt of dail
avoid su
y wear a
rface scra
by expa
nd tear.
tches an
nsion an
Nor can
d co
material,
you prev d gouges - the
expands ntraction. Wood
y'r
ent prob
, as a na
humidity
lems cau e
turally fi
. As it d and contracts
s
ed
b
o
ro
wit
loosen.
es so, b
oards ca h changes in us and porous
n
te
separate
m
The natu
or warp perature or
ra
and nail
joists an l settling of a ho
s can
d the su
bfloor. If use can also cau
a seriou
y
s
o
e
s structu
ral proble ur floor is saggin separations betw
g
m causin
e
g it; con or uneven, there en the
sult a pro
could be
fessiona
l.
roblems
p
n
o
m
m
Co
ar
n
te
Wear and
rs
ghty floo
n Drau
rs
king floo
n Crea
boards
plit floor
s
r
o
d
e
k
n Crac
oden
o
w
a
ng for
i
r
a
c
d
an
Cleaning
trating
irt pene y to
d
s
p
to
hich s
re eas
ealed, w e. It is therefo ut once
floor
o
xed or s
nc
peara
em ab
ally wa
-mop th
rface ap
g is usu
u
n
ry
s
ri
d
o
e
r
o
o
th
fl
s
um
Wooden e and improve
rs, vacu
nce
ac
ood floo
w
in
to enha
ta
the surf
nd rugs
o main
a
T
.
d
o
in
o
ta
ew
main
lour of th
t the co
u
o
a week.
them,
g
n
ri
lighten
ler to b
to
a
e
h
s
c
a
in
la
ble
oloured
Use a p
e, apply
use a c rs the
k
li
o
ls
ld
.
a
u
h
o
uld
lou
uw
the finis
You co
hich co
than yo
a first.
stain, w varnish. Don't
darker
re
d
a
is
o
r
o
re
o
w
u
o
ne
ea
If the fl sting an obsc
lyuretha
nish-this
etter us
te
Even b with a clear po polyurethane fi g it.
.
h
is
always
rn
a
din
thane v lete by sealing n coated with a
first san
polyure
without
bee
omp
s
c
re
a
nly
h
d
tu
t
n
fu
a
a
the
uires o
oor th
timber
oat it in
nd req dvisable
wood fl
-c
a
a
re
x
r,
a
e
to
u
w
a
cq
ever
ossible
with la cloth. A rug is
e it imp
treated
ry
y
-d
will mak
r
p
to
m
c
is fa
h a da
flooring iping over wit
ffing.
Some
w
oid scu
v
d
a
n
a
to
g
e
in
g
vacuum re is heavy usa
e
where th
en floor
d
o
o
an be
w
a
urface c
s
g
e
n
th
i
r,
h
h.
tea
ar and
h varnis
Revarnis
ling wit
s of we
a
n
e
ig
-s
s
re
w
sho
ing and
g and
y sand
sandin
egins to
eaply b heavy-duty
oring b of life by light
h
o
c
fl
d
e
e
c
th
a
If
se
nhan
it is
ing with
new lea
an be e
by sand ended because rs
dition c
given a
n
d
e
o
ll
c
e
d
v
o
le
re
o
m
t
g
tu
s
m
c
a
e
o
b
fa
c
in
is re
ards
manu
oor is
Floorbo . An uneven fl rethane varnish lways follow
. A
ing
lyu
varnish
e. A po sy to maintain
machin
a
e
g
in
d
d
n
n
a
sa
ng
rdweari
very ha
ons.
instructi
Draught pr
oofing a t
imber floor
Some floo
ring is fa
ctory tr
vacuu
eated with
ming an
lacquer, a
where there d wiping over with a
nd require
damp-dry
is heavy usa
s only
cloth. A ru
ge to avoid
g is advisa
scuffing.
ble
You will need:
n
✔
Thin strips of softwood
✔
Plane
✔
Wood glue or adhesive
✔
Mallet
✔
Protective gloves, overalls, goggles, facemask and knee pads
Plane the th
in
into place u strips of softwood in
to wedged
sing a malle
strips and ta
t.
p the wood
n Adhes
ive can be
applied to th
e strip to hel
n Once d
p make a n
ry, pla
eat finish.
and a deep ne away any surplus
surface wo
piled carpet
od. Use a th
.
ick underla
y
For smalle
r gaps, an
acrylic sea
finish, but
lant can b
can be exp
e used. Th
ensive.
is gives a
If the floor
flexible
is in a bad
state gene
surface co
ra
mpletely w
ith hardboa lly, it may be advisab
rd panels.
le to cover
If the draug
the
hts are at th
e junction
to seal the
of the floor
gap with w
and the skir
ooden qua
ting, use m
drant.
astic
loorboards
f
g
n
i
k
a
e
r
c
s
Stopping
e several way
job. There ar
y simple
is a relativel
s
d
ar
o
rb
o
flo
st
Fixing noisy
bbing again
problem:
ds that are ru
ar
o
b
g
tin
fit
tof curing the
ween tigh
or talcum bet
Brush chalk
ce:
oards in pla
each other.
rewing the b
sc
y
b
s
d
ar
o
b
Tighten loose
e
ere may b
ber that th
e
em
th
t
em
lif
R
n
You will need:
es below, so
cables or pip
is out (see
th
k
ec
ch
✔
to
50mm screws
board first
section).
Flooring
✔
es
Wo
Lifting
ic
od drill bit
rv
eaking, se
e
Generally sp
th
ng
o
✔
Drill
routed al
should be
ds, but this
ar
o
rb
o
✔
Sc
flo
rew driver
f
centre o
se.
ca
e
th
s
ay
w
✔ Protective gloves, ove
not al
ralls, goggles,
s to stop
d
ar
facemask and knee pad
o
b
e
th
ll
ri
d
s
ePr
n
litting.
the wood sp
using
rip
the board
of nails to g
n Re-fix
ws instead
50mm scre
curely.
the board se
t:
rted by a jois
d isn't suppo
If a board en
g Flooring
d (see Liftin
ar
o
b
e
th
n Take up
section).
m
e 25 x 50m
oard and th ting.
b
e
th
ll
ri
d
split
n Prep the wood
batten to sto
tten
a
side
b
:
en
batten to the
eed
ood
25 x 50mm
ill n
e
th
w
ew
w
cr
S
m
n
You
joining joist.
50m
of the joist ad
ws
25 x
e
r
e batten
c
s
✔
k on top of th
m
ac
b
d
ar
m
o
b
t
50
bi
and fix with
n Lay the
✔
supported
drill
is
it
d
at
th
o
so
,
Wo
gles
✔
gog
screws.
,
l
l
s
i
l
l
r
r
D
era
v
rive
o
d
✔
,
w
es
s
Scre
pad
glov
✔
tive d knee
c
e
t
Pro
k an
✔
mas
face
Boards end
s with no s
upport
You may
come acro
ss a board
with the re
which has
sult that no
been cut b
thing is sup
etween tw
porting the
o joists
join:
You wil
l need:
✔ 50
x 50mm
wooden
✔ 50m
batten
m screw
s
✔ Wo
od drill
bit
✔ Drill
✔ Scre
w drive
r
✔ Wo
od clam
p
✔ Pro
tective g
lo
ves, o
facemas
k and kn veralls, goggles
,
ee pads
n
Lift the offe
nding boar
ds (see Lifti
ng Flooring
n Fit a le
ngth of 50
section)
x 50mm w
leaving 25m
o
o
d
e
n batten be
m width ex
twe
posed to p
rovide a bri en adjacent boards,
n Pre-dri
dge.
ll the adjace
nt boards to
stop the w
n Insert th
ood splittin
e tim
g.
adjacent bo ber and hold in place
w
ards to it. Y
ou will the ith a clamp while you
end of the
n have som
screw the
previously
ething to fi
unsupporte
x the loose
d boards to
n Pre-dri
.
ll the previo
usly unsup
splitting.
ported boar
d boards to
stop the w
n Lay the
ood
lifted board
b
ac
and fix with
k on top of
the batten
screws.
so that it is
supported
floorboard
f
o
n
o
i
t
c
e
s
Replacing a
o joists
t between tw
s been cu
ard which ha
o
b
a
:
ss
ro
me ac
rting the join
You may co
ing is suppo
th
o
n
at
th
lt
with the resu
You will nee
d:
✔ 50 x 50
mm
wooden bat
ten
✔ 50mm
screws
✔ Wood d
rill bit
✔ Drill
✔ Screw
driver
✔ Wood cl
amp
✔ Protect
ive gloves,
overalls
facemask an
d knee pad , goggles,
s
✔ Bolster,
chisel or cr
owbar
file and
a curved pro ards
as
h
h
ic
h
w
,
ross bo
oard saw
able to cut ac
hire a floorb
is
r
s
o
hi
T
y
.
u
b
tip
n
You ca
lade at the
ard fully.
top of the b
ot lift the bo
n
n
teeth on the
ca
u
yo
ting when
close to skir
the damaged
saw across
ls
ai
n
e
th
ay from
distance aw
it.
n A short
d to support
board.
ction of boar
se
ed
is
ra
e
d
d under th
the other en
strip of woo
the board at ction to be
r
n Place a
ve
le
,
ar
b
f the se
el or crow
other end o
bolster chis
n Using a ve all of it, or saw the
and remo
.
ends of the
a similar way
support the
replaced in
to
.
ts
is
jo
e
ds section 4)
ross th
d battens ac ping creaking floorboar
o
o
w
ft
so
h
p
sto
n Attac
t section (See
replacemen
n
Check the w
idth and de
rest of the
pth of the n
floo
ew
other board rboards. If the new se section is the same as
s it can still
ction is no
t as deep as the
be used by
plywood o
packing the
r hardboar
the
d before po
end batten
s with
sitioning th
n If you
e new sect
need to cu
ion.
t across a
care not to
board that
damage th
lie
s
cl
o
e
se
bottom of
not want
to a wall, ta
th
to remove
the skirting e skirting board. If yo ke
through th
u do
e board alo
board, drill
ng the side
a starting
of the joist.
hole
n Use a
power jigsa
w or the bla
board.
de of a pad
saw to cut
across the
n Attach
a softwoo
d
bat
replaceme
nt board an ten across the jois
d continue
t to supp
ort the
as above.
n Boards
resting on
th
e
ce
rectangula
r-section cu ntre of a joist can be
naile
t brad nails
down if yo
(or you ca d in place with
u think you
n screw a
may need
future such
board
to lift the b
as for acce
oard again
ss to pipes
in the
or cables).
n Boards
cut fl
piece of 25 ush with a joist must
be support
x 50mm tim
ed by scre
ber batten
with the to
win
to the side
p. Screw
of the joist, g a
the board
creaking flo
flush
to the bat
orboards se
ten (see st
ctions 3 an
opping
d 4).
n Mark th
e loca
pen on the tions of underfloor ca
surface of
new board bles and pipes with a
s or chipbo
marker
ard.
ing
Lifting Floor
.
lace a board
r level or rep
o
t
flo
u
o
w
o
ith
el
w
b
inspect
or wires
ss to pipes
necessary to
s
ce
it'
ac
es
r
fo
im
et
d
Som
be lifte
can usually
Floorboards
a board
e.
e surfac
ectly under
damaging th
or pipes dir
s
advice.
le
l
b
na
ca
io
o
n
ek profess
there are
se
at
,
th
re
su
re
su
un
.
Always en
g. If you are
power tools
ling or cuttin
ing or using
er
m
am
you are nai
h
en
tection wh
Wear eye pro
You will need:
✔ Strip of wood
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Ruler & pencil
instructions)
Appropriate saw (see
ttens
50X50mm wooden ba
isel, hammer
Crowbar or bolster ch
eralls, goggles,
Protective gloves, ov
ds
facemask and knee pa
lever up one
ed boards
ar to gently
b
w
o
cr
Square-edg
r
o
olster chisel
ide-bladed b
.
n Use a w board close to the end
u may
osite side. Yo
side of the
t on the opp
ea
p
l.
re
fu
p
en
el
th
h
oard
d and
the raised b
ong the boar
d
n Work al g a strip of wood under
by hand an
levered up
e
find slottin
e
th
b
m
n
o
fr
ca
g
it
protrudin
ard until
ls
o
ai
b
n
e
p
th
ar
g
sh
n
o
be
n Work al Take care as there will
removed.
.
d
nder skirting
f the boar
them from u , with both
e
underside o
as
le
re
to
ss a room
ost vertical
ds until alm
the way acro
Keep the
n Tip boar ards that are fitted all
ver a joist.
o
up
d
of
se
o
ri
B
p
s.
board
r the centre
must be
through ove
the skirting,
w
er
sa
d
d
un
an
s
s
d
n
en
batte
with timber
board raised
the joist.
Lifting ton
gue and gro
ove boards
n Remov
e a tongue
and groove
along each
board
edge with
a tenon sa by cutting through th
circular saw
e
w or by u
which can
sing a smal tongues
be hired.
l cordless
n Then fo
llow the inst
ructions fo
r Square-e
dged board
s.
Boards cut
next to a jo
ist
n If you
cannot lev
er up a bo
edge of a jo
ard, it will
ist.
have to be
cut flush w
n Find th
ith the
e side
blade and of the joist by probing
mark across
th
the board w e joint with a ruler or
try square
n Cut wit
ith a pencil.
h a padsaw
or electric
jigsaw.
n Then fo
llow the inst
ructions fo
r Square-e
dged board
s.
Lifting a se
ction of ch
ipboard
n Chipbo
ard floorin
g is to
with a teno
n saw or jig ngue and grooved.
C
saw if you
need to rem ut along the groove
n Then fo
ove a com
llow the inst
plete pane
ructions fo
l.
r Square-e
n To lift
dged board
smaller sect
s.
io
n
s,
saw or pad
cut with a
saw.
cordless ci
rcular saw,
floorboard
n Replace
sections w
ith extra bat
support.
tens fixed to
the sides o
f the joists
for
Remember
these safety
don’t forget
lf,
se
ur
yo
b
n do the jo
that you ca
Y
If you think
le those D-Ihen you tack
w
re
rules:
s
er
su
th
e
o
ak
d
m
risks,
to you an
e are always
the dangers
r works ther
ai
Don’t forget
p
s.
re
n
y
tio
u
an
t
ying ou
ple preca
g a few sim
jobs. In carr
em by takin
th
e
is
im
in
you m
thes.
• Wear protective clo
ls and make sure
• Use the proper too
ition.
co
they are in good nd
ers instructions.
• Follow manufactur
fessional to do the
• If in doubt – get a pro
job for you.
Don’t turn your
D.I.Y.
into D.Y.I. −
Doing Yourself In
jury!
for further advice and guidance on home maintenance contact Gateshead Council’s
Home Improvement Team on 0191 433 7007
This information is available on request in Braille, auidiotape/cd or large print or in a
different language. Please contact the Home Improvement Team on 0191 433 7007.
Produced by Private Sector Housing Renewal Team,
Gateshead Council, January 2009