Hardboard on top of poor chipboard - worth the effort?

ITtim

Our bedroom flooring is very creaky, i've screwed it down with some better screws which has improved it but its still not great.

I was thinking of laying some hardboard down on top before we underlay and carpet it.

Will it make a difference?

Many thanks. :j

keystone

Only to your pocket.

Cheers

ITtim

I can cope with a bit of hard board, want to avoid the cost of replacing the whole floor though.

martinthebandit

For creaky floors the only real answer is to fix them down properly, more screw's I'm afraid although it's always a good idea to get someone, the heavier the better, to stand on the board you're fixing down to make sure you don't have any gap, and associated possible movement, between the flooring and the joists once the screw's are in place.

keystone

ITtim wrote: »

I can cope with a bit of hard board, want to avoid the cost of replacing the whole floor though.

You missed my point.:( Hardboard will provide zero structural support or lateral strength so what is underneath will continue to creak. You might as well lay old newspaper. So the only difference laying hardboard will make is to relieve you of more of you hard earned dosh than you needed to.

Cheers

ITtim

Ah I see, thanks for the advice. I guess my only option is to relay with new chipboard then.

martinthebandit

ITtim wrote: »

Ah I see, thanks for the advice. I guess my only option is to relay with new chipboard then.

err, nope, just fix down the existing chipboard properly.

ITtim

martinthebandit wrote: »

err, nope, just fix down the existing chipboard properly.

Tried that, I put a ton of long screws in. (apparently flooring screws!)

My builder friend came round last night, he said its not flooring grade chipboard so I guess I'll just have to replace it.

keystone

The creaking and groaning is most likely coming from dust dirt in the tongues/groves. If its not flooring grade material of any description then it would be better to replace it yes. Make sure you don't put a screw through any pipework (yes I have done that!:mad:) or cables and once you have finished marke the floor where pipes and cables run for future reference ie when you've forgotten where they are.

Cheers