Caulk floorboard gaps - who to ask?

unimaginativeusername

Hi there,

I know this is a doable DIY job but I am not blessed in that department and I would probably create twice as much work by trying myself.

As the subject line suggests, there are a few areas in my home where there are gaps in the floorboard that I’d like to get caulked.

Is this a handyman job or more specialised?

thanks!

10-10-20

Hi! This is a handyman or DIY job, EXCEPT that there is a caveat. The gaps are there to provide expansion and shrinkage joints between the boards, so anywhere that you have gaps now in Summer, you're likely to see opening up more in Winter (when the air is dryer). If you fill those gaps then the floor can lift and buckle at points.

What type of floor is it and where are these gaps?

Padre_Pio

Flexible caulk can work. In fairness I don't think shrinkage is so big a deal that the floor would buckle. A house is a fairly consistent temperature and humidity year round.

Open to correction though.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120977288#Comment_120977288

Not in my case where I have a stove within the room. We see shrinkage of about 1cm in total across the floor every Winter. It's uneven, so it looks bad. If I caulked my floor during the Winter, I'd guess that I'd have buckling in Summer.

loyatemu

is it draughts you're worried about OP - you can get self-install products that are designed to fill gaps like this

https://www.draughtex.co.uk/

https://stopgaps.com/

unimaginativeusername

Thanks for input all. That’s a good point about shrinkage. It’s really just in places where the gap is quite visible. Partly aesthetic reasons and partly as one of the things that can help with silverfish (which I’ve mostly conquered but every little helps!).

Would waiting until Winter help with those issues?

But good to know a handyman can do the job.

Thanks all