Replacing 26mm thick chipboard flooring

[Alistair Millar]

Hi,

As above, I've got a few sections of chipboard flooring that could do with being replaced before we get our new laminate flooring put down.

Got the calipers out and it seems as though my T&G chipboard floor boards are 26mm deep. Most places only supply 18/22mm thicknesses (have found 26mm acoustic boards but this seems like overkill for a few patch replacements and would be a hassle to get hold of)

Essentially, is it possible to put down 22mm boards where needed (if the T&G go together) and get the flooring guy to build up the difference with underlay, or will I need to go about things another way?

I have a feeling a similar problem was encountered by a previous owner as there's been some plywood lengths substituted in - would that be a reasonable compromise (building up ply to the right thickness)?

Cheers.

 

[SFK]

Alistair,
Note that I am wondering if your "26mm" chipboard is actually 1inch chipboard. Do a search for "25mm chipboard" as that is available when 26mm chipboard will not work.

If your 26mm thick Chipboard is failing in several areas so it now needs replacing, I would ask why is it failing in these areas as this seems unusual if the rest of the floor is okay? and then I would suggest that if 26mm thick chipboard is now failing in areas you would be better of replacing it all now with say plyboard before the rest of the chipboard fails.

Otherwise, if you are going to replace only sections with 22mm thick chipboard, as a bit of a bodge I think better off putting strips of wood 4mm thick on the top of the joists to lift the 22mm chipboard up to be level with the 26mm chipboard. Note that the T&G will not align as this is central to the thickness of the wood, so you may need noggins between the joists to provide support at the chipboard joins.

They sell thin strips of wood (stored in long bins) in places like B&Q, Wickes and Homebase.
sfk

 

[John D v2.0]

Agreed with the above, you're only interested in the overall height so just put some 18mm with 6mm on top. You can get 25 easily enough and it's excellent stuff for not much more cost, but it's very heavy and not everywhere stocks it. Eg this is a good one http://m.builderdepot.co.uk/25mm-x-1220mm-x-2440mm-wbp-bb-cc-external-plywood.html

 

[John D v2.0]

Oh and I should have mentioned don't use chipboard if possible, although in theory it meets the standard needed, plywood is more tolerant of moisture, movement and the passage of time

 

[Alistair Millar]

That's great thanks for the tips.

The board themselves are in good nick - the ones I'm replacing are only because they've been cut up and re laid to get pipework run. As a result they don't all sit on the joists properly.

This done by the previous owner who was a bit slap-dash!