Floorboards with semi-circular lines underneath

Possom

I've seen pine floorboards for sale which instead of being flat underneath, have a number of semi-circular indentations which run the full length of the boards.

I think the person at the builders merchants said they allow more flex.

I know nothing about floorboards, so was just wondering if you're familiar with these, and if there are any comments to using these as opposed to the traditional floorboards which would not have these under them?

They would be used in a bathroom, with a steel bath (in case this makes any difference).

Thanks!

bluesnake

floorboards, bathroom, damp, woodrot come to mind. Pine is not the hardest of woods.

Would you not make sure that the floor could withstand at least 1000kg (1000l) in weight, if the bath is full no matter what type of flooring you use.

Possom

bluesnake wrote: »

floorboards, bathroom, damp, woodrot come to mind. Pine is not the hardest of woods.

Are most floorboards not traditionally pine (including bathrooms)?

bluesnake wrote: »

Would you not make sure that the floor could withstand at least 1000kg (1000l) in weight, if the bath is full no matter what type of flooring you use.

I'm not sure how I'd go about that.

Alter_ego

Assuming the bathroom is upstairs, the joists will be doing most of the supporting. The actual flooorboards can even be chipboard.

andyhop

Lay 25mm marine plywood and be done with it. No extra prep work for any floor covering

Possom

Alter_ego wrote: »

Assuming the bathroom is upstairs, the joists will be doing most of the supporting. The actual flooorboards can even be chipboard.

Yes, it's upstairs.

andyhop wrote: »

Lay 25mm marine plywood and be done with it. No extra prep work for any floor covering

Why is no extra prep work required for floor covering? Is it because it's one sheet? I'm thinking of laying down a lino over the floor.

MX5huggy

Possom wrote: »

Yes, it's upstairs.



Why is no extra prep work required for floor covering? Is it because it's one sheet? I'm thinking of laying down a lino over the floor.

It won't / doesn't need to be one sheet. But it's suitable for your lino with floor boards you would have to lay hardboard over for a smooth surface. With the 25mm ply you can lay tiles directly on this.

FreeBear

Possom wrote: »

Why is no extra prep work required for floor covering? Is it because it's one sheet? I'm thinking of laying down a lino over the floor.

Marine ply is inherently water resistant and less likely to rot in a damp environment. The sheets will still need to be cut so that any joints meet in the middle of a supporting joist, but there will be fewer gaps & joints to deal with.

andyhop

Flex and movement is thr cause of most failures in bathrooms

Whitewood timber is fast grown with not great strength , 25mm plywood is cross layered and when impact gunned down has practically zero flex

We are yet to have a failure with this method , old school ways are often still the best !

Possom

And say if I were to consider the possibility of using exposed pine boards in the bathroom.

I've read in the ScrewFix threads below about using the Ronseal product pictured on exposed pine bathroom floorboards.

http://community.screwfix.com/threads/opinions-on-dulux-diamond-matt.90033/
http://community.screwfix.com/threads/floorboards-in-bathroom.4363/

If the pine floorboards are tongue and groove, joints and any gaps filled with a silicone sealant and then coated with Ronseal Diamond Hard Floor Wax, do you think this would give reasonable protection against damp penetrating the timbers?

That is, considering the bathroom will contain a bath with an overhead bath shower and a glass bath screen. (Obviously it's not a wet room). The grooved lines under the floorboards are apparently to prevent cupping of the boards, so these should also help prevent this type of movement.

- I should also add, one issue which would apply with using 25mm ply is that the floorboards are 18mm/19mm thick (1930s), so if 25mm boards were used, the bathroom floor would be higher than the landing.

andyhop

I wouldn't even consider using new soft wood boards , they will shrink, split and damage easily