Switching to bare floorboards

[username132]

The quarter-century-old carpet was recently removed from my old bedroom in my mother's house. We'd like to sand the floorboards and varnish them and use them bare, with a rug.

A few concerns:
1) Sound proofing - I read that the space between a ceiling and floorboard used to be filled with ash in order to dampen sounds - is their a modern equivalent?
2) What if a liquid is spilled on the floor? How do we fill the gaps between the floorboards to prevent it from seeping through to the ceiling/electrics below?
3) What is that stone-like substance near where the fireplace must have once been? Might I try to remove it or ought I just leave it?

^ Stone next to vent

^ Floorboard recently replaced

^ Floorboard probably ought to be replaced

^ Possible seepage hazard

 

[geraldthehamster]

The quarter-century-old carpet was recently removed from my old bedroom in my mother's house. We'd like to sand the floorboards and varnish them and use them bare, with a rug.

A few concerns:
1) Sound proofing - I read that the space between a ceiling and floorboard used to be filled with ash in order to dampen sounds - is their a modern equivalent?
2) What if a liquid is spilled on the floor? How do we fill the gaps between the floorboards to prevent it from seeping through to the ceiling/electrics below?
3) What is that stone-like substance near where the fireplace must have once been? Might I try to remove it or ought I just leave it?

1) The modern equivalent is fibreglass roll unsulation, that deadens quite a lot of sound, but of course you can only lay this ifyou are taking up the boards, so I wouldn't worry about it.

2) You'd have to spill a fair amount of liquid to damage the ceiling below, and be unlucky as to where you spilled it, to get it in your wiring. You can fill the gaps with slivers of wood cut to size, or people have used string, or use a product like this: http://www.gapseal.co.uk/

3) Looks like the structural hearth for the fire. I'd leave it myself, or you'll have a gap to board. Stand a pot on it, or tile it and stand a pot on it

Cheers
Richard

 

[mointainwalker]

I disagree with gth about 1)

The glass-wool you get on a roll is thermal insulation. The sound insulation type is nearly four times the density and cannot be rolled. It is sold as panels.

 

[geraldthehamster]

I disagree with gth about 1)

The glass-wool you get on a roll is thermal insulation. The sound insulation type is nearly four times the density and cannot be rolled. It is sold as panels.

Yes.

Although you will get *some* sound attenuation from thermal rock wool insulation.

Cheers
Richard

 

[skenk]

I have discovered (after much hunting!) that the modern equivalent to ash is Quietex limestone chippings, also known as deadening or plugging. Available from Ennstone Thistle in Scotland, not sure about availability in Cheshire but Ennstone Thistle have branches UK-wide.

http://www.ennstone.co.uk/products_aggregates.php

It comes in handy 25kg bags and we are on course to put in about 2tonnes (80 bags) in a flat 50m2. This is not much depth (could probably put in more) and certainly not at much depth (or weight) as the ash you normally find under floors up here. You do have to have the spacer boards (sheet ply/plasterboard between joists siting on battens 1/3 of the way up the joist) intact to do this (or else it will be sitting on the ceiling below - no good). Also you have to lift at least 1 in 5 boards and use some kind of implement to spread it around (we fashioned something out of a small bit of ply on a 2x2 rod).

Would not recommend messing with the old hearth, you're lucky it's intact as it is. A bit of nifty furniture placement is your best bet.