Chipboard floor

[kmssounds]

Hi all,

I am wanting to a lay a new floor as the old one is stained with all sorts of disgusting things my previous tenants left behind.

My question is can I use chipboard floors for the living room? I have been told it may not be able to hold the weight but I have seen these in lofts in the past? I am also told I can get waterproof ones which would help?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Really you should fit plywood. Chipboard does not cope with water spills. If you have crappy tenants who will not mop up after spillages even so called waterproof chipboard is pretty rubbish.

 

[kmssounds]

Would hard wood be the best option then stain it?

Mant thanks for your reply

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Hardwood? Pretty durable but £££'s!

 

[kmssounds]

Is soft wood ok?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

As floor boards or a finished floor? You gonna be laying carpet?

 

[kmssounds]

I'm not sure yet as I'm not sure what the finish would be like?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Really you should fit plywood. Chipboard does not cope with water spills. If you have crappy tenants who will not mop up after spillages even so called waterproof chipboard is pretty rubbish.

Surely plywood is just overkill here? I've installed chipboard (t&g) flooring in quite a few restaurants and pubs where high traffic and spillages are the norm. It has no problems provided that the correct floor covering is applied on top, normally a welded vinyl or ceramic tiling. For strength and to stop creaking we always screw at 300mm centres and glue the joints. Although we normally use 22mm chip on 300 or 400mm centres. Personally, I don't see most domestic installations requiring anything other than 18mm

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes but as you say 'if the correct floor covering is applied' carpet provides no resistance for spillages. Also in a commercial situation significant spillages are moped up PDQ whereas the OP's lazy tenants may not even bother. BTW I would never specify chipboard under any commercial floor where spillages were likely. Should your water proofing ever fail the chipboard will be ruined and you will need to replace it.

The forum is littered with threads where people need to replace chipboard floors in areas prone to spillages.