Owning your own home

Most likely possible! Have a look for my recent posts in the DIY thread; I had new pine boards in my flat. On reflection I'd probably go for reclaimed boards next time, or parquet blocks on a ply subfloor (maybe engineered or vinyl tile in the kitchen). There's loads of options. A company called Surface Plus was recommend to me (after I'd had the work done) and next time around I'd probably take advice from them or similar before proceeding.

Hopefully someone on here can recommend a firm more local to you.

Thanks. In my head replacing the boards will save on labour and materials over both ply and an engineered floor. My architect keeps steering me away from this option, but hes not really articulated why....

That lot work weight an absolute ton. Make sure the joists can handle it.

We've had a structural engineer round to examine the house and create plans etc so I'd hope it's all accounted for

who’s lived there a very long time and probably didn’t have a large disposable income to spend on 40k kitchens or £100+ sqm tiles

Since December 1979. I'll be continuing that tradition by not having the disposable income for a £40k kitchen or £100+ sqm tiles either...

I think getting a real strong kitchen fitter/builder will help get the most out of a budget because it’s the finishes that count

Are the existing boards reasonably flat (no massive peaks/troughs)? Because if so cork underlay + engineered wood would probably work. If massive peaks and troughs, I would probably rectify that by replacing individual boards/shimming/trimming, rather than trying to fix it by adding more stuff on top.

We are going to go for the above (levelling the subfloor by replacing boards) + cork + bamboo.

If we had cork our parrakeet would destroy it in about 10 seconds

Existing boards are not great. Gaps, uneven in places. Lots of creaks and squeaks too. Huge amounts in fact. We had engineered wood over original Edwardian boards in our old house. Over time squeaks and unevenness increased. This may of course have been due to a poor job.

Suggestion for the new place has been to take the existing boards up totally and replace with ply. I do wonder whether I could get away with just new boards with no engineered wood over top .

We finally exchanged on Wednesday. Going to complete on Friday and I can finally cease contact with Estate Agents and Solicitors!

yesssssss well done!

We put down Amtico, it required ply onto the floorboards and then a screed.

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Is that a big-ass skirting board?

Nice floor 👌

Looks fantastic!

Yip, it’s 15 1/2 inches high...one of the things that attracted us to the house

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Only 12 years after starting the thread!

Congratulations.

Never seen that before - what period was the house built?

I keep coming back to that amtico every time I see a pic of your place. How convincing is it as faux wood in real life?

1896, we are the 3rd owners..

Only 12 years after starting the thread!

Haha, and I thought our vendor's solicitors were slow.

Congratulations @Hobo can't wait to hopefully join you in that position soon...

I like it, it has a grain so it’s quite convincing. It’s not parquet, it won’t age or mark. For a home with 2 kids, dog, cat and clumsy parents it’s perfect. Knives, hot fat, wine, beer have all been spilt and it’s unmarked. Skateboards in the hallway, no problem....

It’s not for everyone but we love it.

Congrats man!

ok fess up, which one of yous is this

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Ha saw this the other day, so good, so dangerous.

Not how I’d drink my natural, no sulphur orange wine 💁🏻‍♂️