Lifting floor boards, what else to do while boards are up

[Audis5b9]

As per title, we will shortly be replacing our first floor floorboards.

As the new boards will be screwed and glued, I was to pre-emptively do works so that we dont have to pull them up again in the future.

So far the plan is to:
- Add sound insulation between joists
- Replace downlighters with ones suitable to go under insulation
- Put pipe insulation on all hot water runs
- Run Cat 6 cable to each room/ landing back into loft.

I dont think we want to add any power sockets to any room, so thats not needed. Ceiling speakers have been veto'd by the boss...

What else should we be considering?

[Metric Max]

When I did this I marked the location of any pipes and cables on top of the floorboards with a black marker before the carpet was fitted.
Also infilled the space with Rockwool. Thie has added sound insulation between flloors as well as heat insulation . This keeps the ground floor warm and if I need heat upstairs can put the radiators on.
I also screwed the floorboards down rather than nails to prevent sqeaking boards

[Inlineonline]

Bury a time capsule for future generations?

[Sporky]

Inlineonline said:

Bury a time capsule for future generations?

I was going to say "leave a cryptic note".

[Danns]

If you don't already have minimum 2 zone heating, depending on heating system... consider pipework alternations to facilitate?
Inc running a supply cable for a nest etc thermostat to wall position.
Likewise wet "summer" bathroom towel rail if you don't already have/may want.

Unsure of age of house but check cable runs / hidden junction boxes. Remove/replace where necessary.

Any chance you may want / add further exterior lights in future?

[CambsBill]

Sporky said:

Inlineonline said:

Bury a time capsule for future generations?

I was going to say "leave a cryptic note".

Taking up the floor in my daughter's house recently we came across a very old, wooden-soled child's shoe. Apparently it was done for luck in days gone by. I've also heard of people finding cat skeletons in very old houses, placed there either for luck or to ward off demons.

In modern times, you should probably be leaving a Nike trainer or the remains of last nights KFC under the floorboards

[Audis5b9]

Danns said:

If you don't already have minimum 2 zone heating, depending on heating system... consider pipework alternations to facilitate?
Inc running a supply cable for a nest etc thermostat to wall position.
Likewise wet "summer" bathroom towel rail if you don't already have/may want.

Unsure of age of house but check cable runs / hidden junction boxes. Remove/replace where necessary.

Any chance you may want / add further exterior lights in future?

We already have Drayton wiser kit so heating is sorted...

House was built in 1984.

Exterior lights is actually a very good point, I have one sat in the garage ready to fit and hadn't fully decided on cable run yet so thats a good shout.

[wolfracesonic]

As they’re first floor, pin a note on the wall saying ‘Don’t put foot through living room ceiling’.

[some bloke]

Looks like someone already said it but lag your hot water pipe, at least. Every time I am running the hot tap for 30 seconds waiting for hot water I regret not doing this when the floorboards were up.

[RotorRambler]

I wish i’d run Ev cable across mine when the ceiling was down (difficult meter position in middle of house).
Would have saved me a world of pain!

[williamp]

Also, buy one of these



Remove the metal pole and lay it down, along with a few artifacts from the year the house was built- an old newspaper, for example. Maybe some rusty kitchen knives.

Never tell a soul...

[Audis5b9]

williamp said:

Also, buy one of these



Remove the metal pole and lay it down, along with a few artifacts from the year the house was built- an old newspaper, for example. Maybe some rusty kitchen knives.

Never tell a soul...

We did find a rusty shotgun under the insulation in the loft shortly after moving in, so we may well find a skeleton or two when we pull the floorboards up!

[megaphone]

Cat6 cables for CCTV? TV aerial cables? Wall mounted TV options?

[InitialDave]

Map out where the pipes and wiring etc run under there, and mark it out on top of the floorboards before putting the carpet down.

[Bikesalot]

Quite timely this and sorry for the hijack.

Has anyone added sound insulation inbetween joists and it made a noticeable difference?

[Audis5b9]

Bikesalot said:

Quite timely this and sorry for the hijack.

Has anyone added sound insulation inbetween joists and it made a noticeable difference?

We are putting it down but not entirely convinced it will make any difference, but it's only about £70-100/ room so thought worthwhile even for a small gain.

I think it will help with talking noise, but not people walking round.

Edited by Audis5b9 on Wednesday 13th May 18:24

[Sporky]

I'm not sure it'll make a huge difference as there's mechanical coupling that'll let sound go straight past any insulation.

[LooneyTunes]

Bikesalot said:

Quite timely this and sorry for the hijack.

Has anyone added sound insulation inbetween joists and it made a noticeable difference?

It does make a difference if you do it properly, but unless you factor in some decoupling (membrane and/or resilient bar) it still won't be as good as it could be.

A project I'm working on specifies min 100mm of 10kg/m3 insulation between joists. We'll probably use Rockwool RWA45 (45kg/m3) as from experience that does make a difference.

[Howlin Mad Murdoch]

LooneyTunes said:

We'll probably use Rockwool RWA45 (45kg/m3) as from experience that does make a difference.

Out of interest, can this work with downlighters?

[Audis5b9]

Howlin Mad Murdoch said:

Out of interest, can this work with downlighters?

You can buy downlighters specced to go under insulation (IC rated - Insulation Covered)

https://electricalwholesalers4u.com/products/knigh...