United Reformed Church, Liverpool
(A substantial project, we completely transformed this floor back to a clean and pristine look)
Three Methods To Fill Gaps In Wood Flooring
Filler Strips
Gap filling is usually an option rather than a necessity in the restoration process. Although it adds cost to the job (see price calculator) many of our customers feel it is a worthwhile investment. Its main advantages are...
-
Visual – Many of our customers like the continuous even look of a gap-filled floor
-
Insulation – Due to circulation of cold air brought in through the air bricks; gap filling stops draughts and helps insulate your living area
-
Prevents build up of dirt between the gaps
-
Tightens the floor and helps prevent movement in the timber
Dust and Resin Filler
This is one of the most commonly used ways of filling smallish (less than 5mm) gaps in a wooden floor. What you need to do is to get your hands on some sawdust that is of the same, or at least a similar colour to your floor (unless of course you still have some from when your floor was installed). Once you have your sawdust, you need to mix it with a clear resin filler, which you’ll be able to get from any DIY shop or your wood floor supplier. The consistency you’re aiming for is a bit like a thick putty, which you then introduce into the gaps using a spatula.
This method of gap filling has the advantage of providing a smooth and colour-matched end result and it dries quickly. The downside is that the mixture can fall through gaps where the floor is laid directly over joists and it often becomes fragile with significant floor movement.
Colour Matched acrylic Filler
Colour-matched acrylic fillers are easy to source, either from a good DIY shop or your wood floor supplier and are arguably one of the most straightforward ways of filling gaps in wood floors. Essentially a mastic, this method is fast, efficient and doesn’t require sanding at the end. All of that said, the greatest challenge you’re likely to face with this solution is getting the colour spot on, so do be prepared to experiment.