Replacing floorboards

If you live in an older property, you've probably got some floors that are made from wooden floorboards. While they were made to last a long time, they won't last forever – and you may start to notice that they creak or move underfoot.

Even worse, if you start to notice a damp, musty smell in a room but you can't see any damp on the walls, it could be coming from rotten floorboards. That means it's definitely time to replace them.

So how much does it cost to replace floorboards? We'll go through it in this guide.

How much does it cost to replace floorboards and joists in the UK?

How much it costs to replace floorboards and joists in the UK depends on where you are located, how many floorboards and joists you need replacing and whether you have any floor coverings over your floorboards (like wood or laminate flooring or carpet).

Here are the average costs to expect for replacing floorboards and joists:

How much you pay for labour will depend on where you live. London and the south east tends to be the most expensive.

Take a look at our table further down the page for a more accurate labour cost in your area. HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for carpenters across the UK, so we've used them to estimate labour costs for your town or city.

What affects the cost of replacing floorboards?

The condition of your floor: The more floorboards there are to replace, the higher the cost will be.

Your room’s size: If you're replacing the floorboards in an entire room, the cost will be higher the bigger the room is.

Where you live: Labour costs are higher in major cities and the south east of England. You'll pay less if you live in more rural parts of the UK.

What do rotten floorboards look like?

It's important to know what rotten floorboards look like so you can spot them quickly and reduce the chances of mould spores spreading.

There are two different types of rot to look out for: wet rot and dry rot. Each has its own tell-tale signs.

Wet rot

If you have wet rot in your floorboards, you might notice the following things:

•   A damp, musty smell in your room
•   Cracked floorboards that crumble when touched
•   Dark patches on your floorboards
•   Spongy floorboards that spring back when touched
•   Patches of fungus on your floorboards

If wet rot is left untreated, your floorboards could lose their strength. That means that eventually your floorboards could break underneath you if you don't get them replaced.

Dry rot

Dry rot is considered more serious than wet rot as it attacks timber and can spread without any moisture, because it digests the wood to create moisture itself. Dry rot spores are present everywhere, but it only starts to spread when it finds wood to feed on.

Here are a few signs of dry rot to look out for:

•   Fluffy white patches on your floorboards
•   A mushroom-like patch that is often orange or rust coloured and looks like a pancake on your floorboards
•   Red dust around your floorboards – often near the mushroom-like patches
•   Parts of your flooring feeling bouncy
•   Creaking floorboards
•   Floorboards that have dropped away from your skirting boards

If you have dry rot or a severe case of wet rot in your floorboards, you'll probably need a damp specialist to help you eradicate the problem first before a carpenter replaces your floorboards. This is to ensure all the spores have been killed and won’t affect your new floorboards.

Can rotten floor joists be repaired?

Yes, rotten floor joists can be repaired. A carpenter will simply cut off the rotten joist end and treat the end of the joist that is staying in your floor to prevent it from rotting again. They may then add joist repair plates or bolt on a new part of a joist to match the original joist.

Never try to cut corners with rotten floor joists – if an expert says they need to be replaced, you should take their advice. You could make your rot problem worse if you leave any parts of the rotten joists in your floor.

Can you replace floor joists without removing the floor?

It's unlikely that you'll be able to replace floor joists without removing the floor. Unless you have a crawl space, which is uncommon in British homes, you'll need to remove all your floor coverings to access your floor joists.

Is it worth replacing floorboards?

Yes, it's definitely worth replacing floorboards if they are rotten, split or creaking. Rot will spread if left untreated, and any cracked or creaking floorboards could get worse if you don't deal with them as soon as you notice them.

If your rotten floorboards are confined to one area, there's no need to replace all the floorboards in your room. Simply ask a carpenter to replace the rotten ones and treat them to prevent more growth  - this could cost as little as £200.

Get a range of quotes

When you're looking to get your floorboards replaced, make sure you get a range of quotes. Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with local carpenters to ensure you get the best price for your project.

Estimates for common carpenter and joiner jobs;

Rates for other trades