Replacing floorboards with MDF

[AHarvey]

Hi,

Just ripped the carpet up on our landing and the Alps are flatter. They've always been noisy but now I see why, all over the place, short boards, random screws, there's even newspaper and caulk in between them to fill in gaps.

So, I can either leave them (we're looking at moving), mess around ripping them up and putting them back in properly or just rip the lot out and replace with mdf sheets.

Has anyone done this? What thickness of MDF did you use?

Would it also be worth buying some rubber membrane to go between the boards/mdf and the joists to help with sound or is it a waste of time?

 

[Fireskull]

Not seen anyone use MDF personally but if you are going to rip it up just use 18mm chipwood designed to be floorboards, either standard board or T&G.

But if you really want to use MDF make sure its the moisture resistant kind, bear in mind moisture resistant mdf board at 18mm is about 3x more expensive per board than chipboard flooring.

 

[Kaka]

I would use plywood instead of MDF.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

How old is the house?
It could be the joists are as bad as the boards themselves, if so it could be harder to get a decent solution with sheets than individual boards.
The noise comes from movement, so either the board moving against the joist or the board moving against what its retained with (ie screw/nail)
Occasionally board to board can be the issue but securing them all properly should kill this.

You need to try to understand whats the issues first, shouldn't be impossible to fix this properly with the cost probably limited to a decent box of screws.

 

[AHarvey]

Happy to use plywood etc, really doesn't bother me as long as it's strong and easy to use

House is probably 1960's/70's, the joists themselves are fine in the other rooms it's just that it looks like they've ripped the hell out of the landing ones when laying/repairing/replacing central heating pipes.

 

[AHarvey]

Repairing the floor with floor boards will be much cheaper unless you are dead set on replacing the entire floor

It's not a big space so I can't see the price being a massive difference. L shaped, 1 door with wide at one end, 2 at the other and 3 door widths long. I'm also thinking from a time perspective. Taking boards up will be the same but laying individual boards vs some larger sheets, the sheets would be quicker even with cutting length and width.

 

[Tony Edwards]

It's not a big space so I can't see the price being a massive difference. L shaped, 1 door with wide at one end, 2 at the other and 3 door widths long. I'm also thinking from a time perspective. Taking boards up will be the same but laying individual boards vs some larger sheets, the sheets would be quicker even with cutting length and width.

Dont forget if there are pipes under there it would be easier to get to them incase you need to work on them with floor boards.

 

[BigBoy]

Of your moving and now want to spend much the put down 4mm hard board and carpet over the top it will make a huge difference.

 

[AHarvey]

Of your moving and now want to spend much the put down 4mm hard board and carpet over the top it will make a huge difference.

Got to be aware of it levelling out with the top of the stairs and existing room floors. can't see the plyboard costing more than £30 for the floorspace, will measure up tomorrow so I can price up.

Dont forget if there are pipes under there it would be easier to get to them incase you need to work on them with floor boards.

bit sad I know but in previous rooms, I've lifted boards and then drawn on the floorboards exactly where the pipes are so it's easy to see.

 

[Fireskull]

bit sad I know but in previous rooms, I've lifted boards and then drawn on the floorboards exactly where the pipes are so it's easy to see.

Also do this, it's a godsend when you come to do some work and find someone has marked out whats underneath!