New floor, old house

[kenam]

Wanting to put some sort of wooden flooring in a an old flat.

I am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the different options out there.
Here is the situation:
First floor flat with original wooden floorboards. 2 rooms and small hallway to be done. Rooms have had skirting boards removed to allow the walls to be skimmed. Floors are reminiscent of the latest roller coaster at Alton Towers..

In one room there was a (thin.. 3/4mm) plywood floor nailed down - I guess in an attempt to stop squeaks (It failed).

What leveling options should I consider? Will thick underlay with a moderate thickness laminate/ wood floor on top work, or should I be considering thick ply wood?

I have already screwed down the original boards that I thought were squeaky - which I was worried about by adding lots of plywood.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

The plywood was probably just to smooth it over ready for laminate, carpet or vinyl. Are you saying your floorboards are cupped or could you improve matters by screwing them down to get a roughly flat floor? Are they tongue and groove?

If you can get them roughly flat then you can just put down some of those green fibre underlay boards and laminate on top.

 

[kenam]

I need to go back and dbl check it. The boards are okish I think (complete flooring novice here..) but the have been cut for services, relaid, nailed etc.

When there was skirting boards on, the skirting boards met the floor at one end of the room, but there was a 1-2cm gap in the middle (between the skirting and the floor) - but thinking about it - maybe that was due to the walls moving as much as the floor..
Plasterer is in right now, I will get about it with a spirit level tonight.

 

[kenam]

Also - I should add - as I am on the first floor - I would like to ensure its as quiet as possible for downstairs - how can I tackle that as well?

 

[Gerrydelasel]

I will get about it with a spirit level tonight.

It doesn't need to be perfectly flat* since underlay will even out minor bumps, you just made it sound terrible with your rollercoaster description!

*When I say flat I mean smooth. It doesn't have to be level.

Also - I should add - as I am on the first floor - I would like to ensure its as quiet as possible for downstairs - how can I tackle that as well

You got me there. Someone else will chime in.

 

[kenam]

It doesn't need to be perfectly flat (i.e. smooth, it doesn't need to be especially level), you just made it sound terrible in your description!

I was going from my memory of what the skirting board looked like - it gave the impression there was a massive buckle in the floor!

 

[Gerrydelasel]

I was going from my memory of what the skirting board looked like - it gave the impression there was a massive buckle in the floor!

Does it matter? A gentle sag of the entire floor isn't likely to be noticed, is it?

 

[kenam]

Does it matter? A gentle sag of the entire floor isn't likely to be noticed, is it?

I dont know - Thats what got me here! I guess not if the boards all meet each other and are smooth?

 

[Gerrydelasel]

I dont know - Thats what got me here! I guess not if the boards all meet each other and are smooth?

Old houses sag. It's natural. What you don't want are lumps; floorboards cupped, poking out, floorboards of different thicknesses etc. If it's all basically smooth then any covering you put on will simply follow the gentle sag of the floor.

 

[kenam]

Thats good to hear - I was thinking i would have to pull floorboards and do something like this - i.e. add extra beams against the joists to pull it all level

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Obviously vinyl or carpet would drape happily over a saggy floor, but if it's a gentle sag then even laminate will cope. It does in my house.

 

[kenam]

So I purchased some 12mm laminate from Wickes in the end and will try to lay it in a couple of weeks (wont be back in the house until then).

I was thinking would it be worth adding a bot of ply to the 'saggiest' areas before before adding the underlay? Or would I be causing issues for where the ply stops? I have to run some cables under the floor first - so when I am doing that and screwing back down I will reassess the situation then - just thinking ahead!

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Or would I be causing issues for where the ply stops?

Yes. Unless I'm misunderstanding you and your floor!

 

[kenam]

No - you are perfectly understanding my bad plan making

The ply idea was also to try and better sound insulate it - but hopefully with the 12mm laminate and a good quality float it should be ok..