Risky? Exposed bathroom floorboards with gaps

rosered1963

Hi all.

We have awful mould in our bathroom so I disinfected all the walls and surfaces and was about to paint the walls and ceiling. We live in a rented house (cold and spot-heated, hence the mould problem). I noticed that the carpet looked very old, and thought it might be harbouring damp and spores so I ripped it up, swept the floorboards and painted them, thinking it might be best from a damp prevention point of view. Unfortunately though, there are big gaps in the boards in places, especially near the bath. A friend told me today that I need to be careful in case water gets through the boards to the household wiring beneath. Oops! Is this true, and if so, what should I be putting on the floor - lino, tiles, or a new carpet? Ought I not to have pulled up the carpet? I am not a DIY expert. Advice very much appreciated.

ormus

its up to you what covering you want to lay on the floor. it might help to put a layer of hardboard down first to cover the gaps though. then the final cover/finish of your choice.
im not to keen on carpet in the bathroom though.

olias

If you are going to paint the floor you can fill the gaps with anything - silicone sealant etc or if the are too wide then cut strips of wood or similar, stuff into the gap till just below thw surface, then fill to the level of the floorboard with sealant, then repaint the whole floor. Make sure you use a waterproof paint.

If the property is rented howver, surely you could have got hold of the landlord and advised him of the problem and got him to fit some new flooring, maybe vinyl or similar. If you could afford, you could always offer to pay a sum towards this (you are under no obligation to, but it could help speed things up!)

Olias

dougk_2

If you live in a rented house, surely the landlord should replace the carpet and fix the floor?

rosered1963

Thanks very much for all your help - I didn't know what to use to fill in gaps/ cover floor - now I know.

Can't bother the landlord at the moment - he is 85 and very ill.

Thanks v much