myjobquote

Home Cost Guides Cost to Replace FloorboardsArticle

Replacing Floorboards Costs

By Kim

Last updated 11th June 2024 - Reading time: 12 mins

At a glance

The average cost to replace or repair floorboards is around £500
The job will take approximately 2 days to complete

In this article, you'll discover the following:

A complete pricing breakdown which includes cost factors to consider, types of floorboard repairs, along with what such a task usually involves
How long the job should approximately take and a general overview of what kind of jobs can be performed
How to find and hire a flooring expert

Do you have faulty floorboards?

The most common floorboard issues can be fixed relatively easily. Many homeowners can fix a faulty floorboard as a DIY job.

However, it's a good idea to look to a professional to ensure floorboard repair or replacing floorboards is completed to a high standard while also preventing further work down the line.

The cost to fix a floor in this manner would cost you around £500 on average.

Ready for a quote?

We have a range of flooring experts ready to offer you a free quote!

Take a look below...

Average Cost of Repairing Floorboards:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 2 days

£500

How Much Does it Cost to Repair or Replace Floorboards?
- Floorboard Repair/Replacement Prices
Supply Only Costs
Additional Costs
Labour Costs and Timescales
Cost Factors of Repairing Floorboards
What's Involved in Repairing Floorboards?
Can I Repair a Floor Myself?
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Floorboard Repairs
Types of Floorboard Repairs
Hiring Contractors to Repair Floorboards Checklist
FAQs
Sources

How Much Does it Cost to Repair or Replace Floorboards?

The price you pay for fixing floorboard issues will depend on the severity of the problem, the time it takes to repair, and your location in the UK.

Typically, a tradesperson would charge around £200-£250 for most floorboard repair jobs.

If your floorboards need to be replaced, this could take a lot longer than other jobs and will end up being more expensive.

Similarly, if the repair job is minor, this will take less time and will end up costing less.

In general, how long does it take to have damaged floorboards repaired?

"It all depends on how many damaged floorboards need replacing."

Speedy flooring

Floorboard Repair/Replacement Prices

Below is a table highlighting the costs for the most common floorboard repair jobs:

Job Description	Duration	Average Cost
Lift the carpet and do a creaky floorboard repair, then lay the carpet again	1-4 hours	£200-£250
Repair broken floorboards and screw in any loose floorboards	1-2 days	£250-£300
Replace or repair floor joists and replace split floorboards	1-3 days	£400-£500
Remove rotten springy boards and joists, fit new joists and floorboards	1-2 days	£300-£400
Remove all flooring and fit new joists and new chipboard flooring	2-4 days	£1000-£1250
Remove all flooring and fit new joists and new conventional floorboards	3-5 days	£1500-£1800

Want a custom price?

Post your job

Supply Only Costs

Below is a list of the supply costs for repairing floorboards:

Material	Cost
Timber 4.2m length	£8-£20
150mm floorboards	£25-£30 per m²
Chipboard sheets	£8-£10 per m²

Want a custom price?

Post your job

Additional Costs

There are several additional costs that you may want to think about when you have your floorboards repaired. Below is a list of these additional costs:

Underfloor Heating

If you have been thinking about having underfloor heating installed anyway, then this may be the perfect time to do it.

While your floorboards are being repaired, your carpet or flooring will need to be lifted anyway, so it's a great opportunity to add underfloor heating to the room.

The cost to have underfloor heating installed is around £700-£900 on average. This may differ depending on the size of the room or the type of underfloor heating that you're installing.

Skirting Board Heating

Similarly, you may want to install skirting board heating. This is a simpler job and acts in the same way as underfloor heating.

The price for installing skirting board heating is usually around £400-£600 on average. The actual price you pay will depend on the room's size and the difficulty of the job.

Install New Carpet

While you're getting your floorboards fixed, it's also a great time to get a new carpet fitted – especially if you've been thinking about doing it for a while anyway.

The cost of installing a new carpet will depend on the size of the room and the type of carpet. However, the average cost of installing a new carpet is around £400-£800.

Install Laminate Flooring

Similarly, if you have been thinking about getting a new laminate floor fitted, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to get this done.

The cost for installing laminate flooring will differ depending on the room's size and the type of laminate flooring that is being installed.

The average cost of installing laminate flooring is around £500-£1000.

Labour Costs and Timescales

The cost you pay for labour will depend on many factors, including your location, the difficulty of the job, and the type of repair.

Typically, a tradesperson will charge around £200-£250 per day to fix floorboards.

Minor fixes can usually be completed within 1-4 hours. More difficult jobs such as completely replacing the floorboards could take 1-3 days to complete.

With this in mind, you can see how the labour costs for more difficult jobs could increase greatly. Luckily, the most common floorboard fixes can usually be completed within a day.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£70 more on average for labour than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

Cost Factors of Repairing Floorboards

Several factors can affect the cost of your floorboard repair job. Below is a list of the main factors that can make a difference to the overall cost:

Type of Floor

The type of floor you have can affect the cost. Carpets are relatively easy to lift and remove. However, more difficult flooring such as tiles could increase the time it takes to complete the job.

The longer the job takes, the more you can expect to pay in labour costs. So, it is important to note the type of flooring you have and how difficult it's going to be to remove before the work and re-install after the work.

Extent of Damage

The extent of the damage can affect the cost greatly. Small, minor jobs can be completed within a few hours and won't be as expensive as more extreme jobs.

Major jobs such as replacing all of the floorboards could take a few days, which will ramp up the costs for both labour and materials.

Location of Property

The location of your property can also affect the price you can expect to pay. Those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£70 more on average for labour than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.

What's Involved in Repairing Floorboards?

There are several methods for repairing floorboards as each floorboard issue will require a different fixing method.

Below we will go over the two most common fixes for floorboards, including a step-by-step guide on how to complete each fixing method:

Fixing Creaking Floorboards

Floorboards can become creaky when the fixing nails are loose, and the board isn't firmly attached anymore. Below is a guide on how to fix creaking floorboards:

Replacing a Section of Floorboard

If a small area of your floorboard is damaged, you can replace part of the board rather than having to replace the whole board.

Can I Repair a Floor Myself?

Many minor floorboard repair jobs are quite simple and could be fixed easily by a novice DIY enthusiast.

We have created the guides above to help with fixing the most common floorboard repair issues.

However, if you are unsure at all or if the job is quite extensive, you would be better off reaching out to a professional to complete the work for you.

A floorboard repair specialist will know exactly what to do to fix your particular issue, while completing the job safely, efficiently, and the work will be to a high standard.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Floorboard Repairs

Some floorboard repair jobs may be subject to certain building regulation rules. When floors are replaced, they must meet certain requirements for 'renovation of a thermal element'.

This means that if you are working on more than 50% of the floor, it needs to be entirely renovated to include insulation and improve thermal efficiency.

If you are replacing timber floorboards or concrete ground floors, this is also a requirement.

Some floorboard repair jobs will require additional insulation work. For some ground floor work, you won't need to worry about insulation work.

The best way to understand which building regulations need to be followed is to contact your local authority, who will advise you on what is needed.

Types of Floorboard Repairs

Repairing Loose Floorboards Cost

Loose floorboards can be fixed easily by simply replacing the nails that hold them in place with screws instead.

Loose floorboards tend to be creaky and squeaky, so completing this simple repair can help to stop these annoying sounds from occurring every time you step on the loose floorboard.

The cost of repairing a loose floorboard is around £200-£250 if you choose to hire a professional.

Repairing Damaged Floorboards Cost

Split or cracked floorboards can be repaired by putting some strong wood glue in the cracks and splits and then forcing the edges together with wedges in the gaps.

The cost of repairing damaged floorboards is around £200-£250 if you choose to hire a professional to complete the work for you.

Replacing Floorboards Cost

Floorboards that are more severely damaged can be replaced. This is the best way to ensure that the floorboard won't worsen and is the best fix for extremely damaged floorboards.

The cost for replacing a floorboard is around £400-£500 on average. If you need more than one floorboard replacing, the cost will increase accordingly.

Hiring Contractors to Repair Floorboards Checklist

There are a few things you will need to consider before hiring someone to repair floorboards. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

Does the contractor offer any guarantees with their work?
How much is the work to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of costs so you can ensure you are paying a good price for each element of the job.
What type of floorboard repairs does the company offer?
Do you need to supply any materials yourself, or is it all included in the job's overall price?
Is the contractor experienced in the type of floorboard repair that you need?
How many years' of experience does the contractor have in repairing floorboards?
Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?
Will the contractor take care of any relevant waste removal?
Will the contractor follow all appropriate building regulations?

FAQs

How do you repair rotten wooden bathroom floor?

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to repair a rotten bathroom floor:

Begin by turning the water off.
Use a crowbar to pull up the old flooring.
Remove the subfloor.
Inspect the joists underneath for damage, as you may need to hire someone to replace those too.
Clean the area of dust and debris.
Install subfloor if needed.
You can now lay your new chosen floor.

How do you repair floor joists that are water damaged?

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to repair water damaged floor joists:

Put on safety gear and set up a work light.
Access the subfloor area through the crawl space and go to the area under the water damage.
Measure the distance from the points where the rotten joists attach on either end.
Measure the side of the joist from the lower edge to the upper edge, so you know the measurements for the replacement.
Exit the crawl space and obtain a piece of framing lumber to use as a replacement joist.
Measure and mark the replacement piece and cut it to size.
Position the new joist on its edge alongside the rotten joist with one end on the sill plate.
Hit the side of the joist at the other end with a hammer to fit that end against the rotten joist.
Connect each end of the new joist to the sill plate with nails.
Cut the rotten joist vertically near each end and remove the rotten part.

Why is my floorboard creaking?

Creaky floorboards are usually due to loose nails or screws. This can be rectified by simply inserting new nails or tightening the screws. Squeaky floorboard repairs will only usually take a matter of hours.

How do I know if my floorboard needs to be replaced or repaired?

Look out for split, cracked, or damaged floorboards and check for damp or rot. If you have a carpet, then check for springy or saggy floors. All of these will indicate that your floorboards need to be repaired or replaced.

Can I replace floorboards myself?

If you are on a tight budget and looking to save money, you can replace floorboards as a DIY job. However, if you aren't confident in what you're doing or if the work is very extensive, it is best to call in a professional to do the work for you.