How to change damaged floorboards in a garden house?
In our garden house the floors began to creak, cracks appeared between the boards. One floorboard is even slightly rotten. Tell me how to replace damaged floorboards and what to consider when doing this? I would like the new floors to be laid without errors. Sincerely, Varvara Mikhailovna.
Hello, Varvara Mikhailovna! The appearance of gaps between the floorboards indicates that initially wet boards were laid with the floor. Over time, the material has dried and decreased in size. You can eliminate the cracks by remodeling the floors. During this operation, at the same time check the condition of the lag, especially in those places where the floor creaks. If necessary, the logs are leveled and strengthened. If the logs are rarely located, then an additional timber is placed between them.
Important! Do not slip chips or wedges under the unstable logs, which gradually fall out and the floors begin to creak again. If wedges are nevertheless used to strengthen the lag, then they must be securely fixed with nails.
When replacing rotten floors, lumber is sorted, choosing boards without visible defects for flooring in bright open areas of the garden house. The remaining material is used for flooring in less visible places (corridors, passages, pantries).
They try to stack wide boards so that the annual rings are directed in opposite directions. With this approach, it is possible to obtain a more even floor surface after the wood dries.
Important! If the floorboards are not dry enough, then they are nailed only at the ends with one nail. Sometimes they also grab in the middle. When the material is completely dry, carry out the final fixing of the floorboards.
Correct skirting
When flooring in a garden house, they leave a centimeter gap between the internal walls and the boards. A subfloor is ventilated through these openings, and therefore the boards do not mold and do not rot from cold walls. When wet, the floor has room for natural expansion. Left gaps are closed with skirting boards.
Important! Plinths are not mounted to the floor, but to the walls. This protects the floor from swell and warpage.
Some additional tips
- If when replacing the floorboards, a thicker board is used, then grooves are cut in it from the back side (opposite the lag).
- If it is necessary to lay a thin board instead of a rotten thick floorboard, then a roofing material is placed under it.
- If you can’t move the boards, then you can get rid of the cracks with the help of trims. However, this is a temporary option, since the slats warp, crack, or even fall out over time.
- Ventilation devices that are made in opposite corners of the room and are closed with special grilles will help prevent decay of floors and logs.
- Elimination of minor cracks, small cracks is carried out using putty. For dry rooms choose adhesive putty, and for damp - oil.
