Chipboard flooring

[Allistairb]

Hi,

my house is 150 years old and the joists look like 4x2. The chipboard that has been laid is not very good. I would like to replace this with T&G floor grade chipboard.

I understand how to lay this but am not sure what thickness to lay. Shall I go for 22mm or 18mm? I need to determine the spacing ie 400 or 600 mm too.

Cheers.

 

[JohnD]

if you are going to the trouble of replacing the flooring, don't use chipboard. It's rubbish. You can get flooring ply, or wooden T&G "plank" floorboards.

 

[Allistairb]

Hi JohnD,

What are the differences between these and the issue with floor grade T&G chipboard?

thanks

 

[JohnD]

flooring chipboard is very weak, it breaks easily including at nail or screw holes when it flexes, it falls apart if it gets wet, it is prone to squeak at joints.

If you have it at the bottom of stairs, where people may step heavily onto it or children jump down, it is inclined to crack.

At a place where it is stood on regularly (e.g. in front of a sink) or under a heavy appliance such as a dishwasher it is inclined to crack.

(all the faults above have happened to the chipboaard floors my house was built with).

WBP ply is a bit dearer but far superior.

"Floorboards" are more expensive and work to lay but are also superior and look much better.