Victorian School flat - flooring

3 years ago

Hello,
I live in a Victorian School conversion flat with what Im presuming is original flooring. Wondering what Houzz experts think the options are to either replacing or renovating to improve insulation and soundproofing?
Thanks!

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Comments (8)

minnie101
3 years ago
I think it depends on your expectations and whether you have kids etc. I quite like the character you end up with from soft wood and like it as is (although not as sure in a living space but depends on the aesthetics!). It will however dent very easily as I’m sure you‘ve found already. I‘m not convinced rugs, furniture fee etc work to protect it either. Perhaps you could look for a new floor which has a reclaimed look?
Sonia
3 years ago
You can lay a wooden floor over it, if you wanted a change. Pine flooring is soft and gets dented and worn in high traffic areas. And it can be so draughty. i laid laminate over mine years ago as a temporary measure to stop the draughts and it certainly did that. It has fared well so I still haven’t changed it yet, but I would prefer a nice oak.
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Sarah U-S
3 years ago
Although I love nice new floors, I also really love original floors too. My house is Victorian and when we moved in, the exposed boards were similar to yours. We had someone in a few years ago to sand them and revarnish - it wasn’t too expensive - and it took off the orange tinge that I wasn’t keen on. The floor takes a bit of a battering, but rough imperfections suits our family life better - I can always sand and revarnish or even recolour whenever needed. We have a big rug in the lounge and have put some left over thermal underlay underneath - we don’t notice the droughts that much.
kazzh
3 years ago
If you are a dedicated soul, i think I read somewhere on houzz of someone triming and using door seal foam to fit into the gaps in their floor, worked down into the gaps. I see the gaps are very uneven so this might only be viable for the more significant ones. Teamed up with the rug with thermal underlay, it might help. (And yes, if it were me, I'd be retainig the wood and spending my evenings and weekends on my hands and knees..... a form of dedication not many share..😕..)
minnie101
3 years ago
😂 Kazz, I got someone in and like Sarah said it wasn’t too dear, definitely cheaper than an alternative floor.

If you do keep it you can also buy this stuff although it may work out quite dear.. I looked into it when I did my bedroom floor a year or so ago but not convinced you really get a draught upstairs.

https://www.draughtex.co.uk/standard-40m-roll/?fGB=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiOykqoyj7wIVqejtCh246wCgEAQYASABEgJZ8PD_BwE
nmlondon
3 years ago
oh how I hate pine flooring, especially since it wasn't meant to be the flooring in most houses, but rather carpeted. We have pine flooring throughout, restored by the previous owners, sealed in between the boards. I cannot stand it, it's orange, the sealant dried and fell into the void mostly, the floor boards are super soft, dent easily and, both my husband and daughter, who love walking barefoot, get splinters regularly. I have beautiful engineered oak floor boards waiting to be laid - can't wait!
Josh Allen
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks everyone - very helpful. Think I’ll get someone in to take a look at an thermal underlay.

The other slightly annoying thing is that the wood style/colour differs between underneath the kitchen table and the rest of the room but would expect a relaying of the whole floor to match would be pretty expensive. I guess sanding and varnishing would help, but not convinced the style would match anyway?
88wj88
3 years ago
I would replace the pine as soon as your budget allows for oak or engineered oak boards - they will look better, feel better underfoot, improve draughts with a bonus of added value.

Victorian School flat - flooring

Comments (8)

minnie101

Sonia

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Sarah U-S

kazzh

minnie101

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Victorian School flat - flooring

Comments (8)

minnie101

Sonia

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Sarah U-S

kazzh

minnie101

nmlondon

Josh AllenOriginal Author

88wj88

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Josh Allen
Original Author