Blocking gaps floorboards to keep the house warmer?

Counting_Pennies_2

We are about to buy an old house, we would like to expose the original floorboards, sand them down and varnish in the hallway.

The problem is the owners said the temperature in the house went up several degrees once they had put carpet down.

My question is, is there a way of blocking up the gaps of the floorboards when they are sanded down in order to stop the drafts?

Thanks

1984ReturnsForReal_2

No. There isnt a way if you want them exposed other than pull them all up & put hardboard underneath

nickj_2

if the cracks aren't too big you can mix some of the sanding dust with pva wood glue or try something like this http://www.draughtex.co.uk/?fgs=true

SailorSam

When i was filling in big gaps beneath the skirting boards and floorboards, i used old newspapers to make paper machie then a thin smear on top to finish the job. Maybe you could do something similar between the boards.

Hintza

Do you really want to go down this route from what you have said it will cost you a fortune in additional heating.

renegade

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

We are about to buy an old house, we would like to expose the original floorboards, sand them down and varnish in the hallway.

The problem is the owners said the temperature in the house went up several degrees once they had put carpet down.

My question is, is there a way of blocking up the gaps of the floorboards when they are sanded down in order to stop the drafts?

Thanks

Best buy a carpet then, saves money in the long run!

keith969

You can't fill the gaps between them effectively, as floorboards shrink and expand depending on the humidty level. Any filling will crack and look terrible, as I have found out from experience.

We sanded the living room floor in an old (1860's) house we once had. Below it was a cellar, when it was windy the air coming through the gaps could actually make a rug on the floor rise up!

If you want a wood floor in the hall, why not put wood flooring on top of the floorboards.

unluckychappie

I followed the route of using woodfiller. It took a long time to apply but it worked extremely well and raised the room temperature a few degrees. Looked better once the floor was stained as the woodfiller absorbed the colour.

Jonesya

Another possible option, but a lot of work, is you could lift the floorboards and insulate between the supporting timber-work then refit.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

keith969 wrote: »

You can't fill the gaps between them effectively, as floorboards shrink and expand depending on the humidty level. Any filling will crack and look terrible, as I have found out from experience.

We sanded the living room floor in an old (1860's) house we once had. Below it was a cellar, when it was windy the air coming through the gaps could actually make a rug on the floor rise up!

If you want a wood floor in the hall, why not put wood flooring on top of the floorboards.

I was going to suggest that.
We have an 1800s house and the floor boards are beautiful however it would be impossible to live in the house in the winter if they were on show.
You'd freeze to death.
What we did was buy some wood flooring that looked just like realy good boards.
They look fantastic and are much warmer.
More practical and much prettier than carpet too.

DVardysShadow

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

... My question is, is there a way of blocking up the gaps of the floorboards when they are sanded down in order to stop the drafts?

It won't be necessary if the boards are tongue and groove