Floorboards as main floor? (No sub-floor)

5 years ago

My partner is a wheelchair user and we've just had a platform lift (elevator) built into our home as part of a large renovation project. We were asked about floor height on the 1st floor, and agreed just to scrub up our existing floorboards and use those. However we hadn't considered the fact we'd planned to have engineered-wood flooring in our bedroom. This would add 14mm - 20mm of height to the floors in the bedroom creating a bump at the doorway. There's also a bathroom and 2 other bedrooms off the hallway which need new flooring. We don't want awkward thresholds at all the doorways leading off from the hallway.

Obviously with using a wheelchair the lumps and bumps need to be as minimal as physically possible.

We can't adjust the lift and there's only a 5mm tolerance under the lift door (it opens out the way).

My partner and I really want wood flooring - engineered or solid. But how do we do this without creating too much height? Are there nice wood planks that can be used directly on joists? We were looking for wide light coloured oak planks. Like this:

Bedroom Flooring · More Info

Are there any pros/cons to not having a sub-floor? Will noise be a problem between the levels?

Any help/advice/tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Linda

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Comments (5)

E D
5 years ago
I'm not an expert but I would not have a wooden floor without any insulation / subfloor.

There would be a lot of contact noise without it.

If it's really too late for your lift provider to adapt to the (new) height of the floor, you will probably need to have ramps here and there.

Perhaps there is a way to make the door open to a higher position with special hinges or similar?
Ade and Linda Adepitan thanked E D
Sam Potter
5 years ago
I've got sanded original floorboards throughout my house I've got rugs in the living room and bedroom which I guess you'd want to avoid with a wheelchair. However unless you have large noisy teenagers or hyperactive littlies in the house I reckon you won't be too bothered by any extra noise. If you are used to insulated floors and/or carpets you may wish to compensate with thick curtains and lots of soft furnishings, to avoid that echoey empty quality to sound that you get in bare rooms.
Ade and Linda Adepitan thanked Sam Potter
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E D
5 years ago
Some original floorboards can have quite some gaps between them, not great for draught nor wheels, but I'm sure you've considered that.

I agree with Sam, if it's just yourselves to consider the noise levels may well be fine to live with. Re echoey sounds in a room, these will not be reduced by having a subfloor anyway.
Sonia
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Like Sam I have original floorboards. The boards are nailed to a frame, and downstairs there is just a gap of about 1 foot between the floorboards and the soil below! However, I think you could get a carpenter to lay a solid floor onto the subframe, as has been laid in older houses like mine for hundreds of years. So yes, floorboards can be attached to the joists. That way the floor can be one level throughout the house. It may be a little bit draughty but I think it will be the best option for you. Accessibility is the key I would imagine, not noise levels or drafts.
Ade and Linda Adepitan thanked Sonia
Chris Goodchild
5 years ago
A quick google for T&G oak floor boards produced this:

https://russwood.co.uk/interiors/flooring/oak-flooring/unfinished-solid-oak/Gallery

If you make the same search there are more but the above company looked pretty good and interesting for ideas at least.

If you go for direct fixing to the joists, you can insulate between the joists which, in the event that you are installing butted boards will cut down on drafts and noise transmission.
Ade and Linda Adepitan thanked Chris Goodchild

Floorboards as main floor? (No sub-floor)

Comments (5)

E D

Sam Potter

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Sonia

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