Any idea what this is on my landing floorboards?

M

Michaelsf90

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• 9 Aug 2021

• #1

I plan on adding new cables in when doing my bathroom and a bedroom. New shower circuit and adapting a ring main. I need to get under the floor on the landing and I've come across something I dont have a clue what it is. It's on top of the landing floorboards. In another section it's broken away and looks black underneath. Anyone any ideas. And anyone any ideas how to get it off?

 

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C

Captain Nemesis

• 9 Aug 2021

• #2

Never mind about that - what are these:

?

 

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Michaelsf90

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• 9 Aug 2021

• #3

Burglar alarm cables. Not my handy work. Rough as but extra low voltage engineers get away with it

 

D

Deleted member 174758

• 10 Aug 2021

• #4

Without examining it in person, it is difficult to day, but the black stuff could well be a bituminous flooring adhesive, once used to fix tiles, etc in place. The grey stuff on top of it I'd be more suspicious of - if it is soft and cardboard like, no problem as it's probably just a grey board (cardboard) backer, but if it is hard and brittle and relatively heavy (against cardboard packaging) it might contain asbestos fibres and it's possiby worth getting it tested/removed

 

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Michaelsf90

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• 10 Aug 2021

• #5

It is soft. Like a mixture between wood and cardboard

 

D

Deleted member 174758

• 10 Aug 2021

• #6

Then it is most likely a compressed fibreboard (like the grey board you get at the back of ring binder pads). AFAIK it was used in the 1930s to 1960s as a sort of insulated backer under carpets in stair wells where paper roll couldn't be laid. Reduces the noise of feet going upstair, etc as well as preventing the carpet from sticking to the woodwork (especially if painted). Never seen it used anywhere else.

 

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Michaelsf90

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• 10 Aug 2021

• #7

The conundrum is do I scrape it all off or only scrape what I have to off and try and put something back down so their isnt a dip in the floor

 

D

Deleted member 174758

• 10 Aug 2021

• #8

Going to be a be'atch to get up. Got a multitool? That might do the job if fitted with a scraper blade

 

C

Captain Nemesis

• 10 Aug 2021

• #9

Try a hot air gun to soften the bitumen stuff, see if the board lifts easily. If it does then more hot air and scraping should remove any remaining adhesive.