CM17 · M11 J7 · 1 mi from Harlow
Old Harlow Floorboard Gap Filling & Repair
We fix gappy floorboards in Old Harlow every week. The question is never 'can we' — it's 'what method suits this specific floor'. That decides on inspection, not over the phone.
From £560 · Includes survey, fill, sand and finish. Free draught assessment on the same visit.
Typical turnaround: 3–5 days for a typical room; larger houses in stages by room.
What's actually happening
The likely root causes in Old Harlow's period homes and along M11 J7:
- 1
Previous filler that used the wrong product and has failed
- 2
Historic lift-and-refit that never gapped correctly on relay
- 3
Woodworm damage in older joists causing board drop and gap widening
- 4
Central heating driving seasonal moisture cycles the wood wasn't designed for
- 5
Sub-floor ventilation drawing air up through the gaps (badly on some listed properties)
What you're seeing in Old Harlow
Common signs we diagnose in CM17 gappy floorboard repair calls:
- Whistling or hissing sound when wind hits the property
- Visible strips of dark from the joist below between every board
- Gaps wider in winter (dry air), narrower in summer — seasonal movement
- Cold rooms above unheated cellars or void spaces
- Grit and dust rising up between boards when you walk
Materials & method
Exactly what we use on Old Harlow gappy floorboard repair jobs — no vague "trade-quality" waffle.
- Sawdust from the sanding phase + Bona Mix & Fill resin — period-correct hard fill
- Bona Gap Master flexible acrylic — for gaps with seasonal movement
- Reclaimed pine slivers glued with PU adhesive — for the widest gaps
- Osmo Polyx-Oil Raw or hardwax oil for period-authentic finish
Timeline: 3–5 days for a typical room; larger houses in stages by room. · Price: from £560 · Includes survey, fill, sand and finish. Free draught assessment on the same visit.
Our repair process in Old Harlow
Step 1
Survey & gap measure
We measure gap widths at multiple points and check seasonal movement history. That tells us whether flexible fillet, resin fill or relay is the right answer.
Step 2
Choose the method
Under 3mm: sawdust-and-resin (period-correct look, hard finish). 3–8mm: flexible acrylic fillet (accommodates movement). Over 8mm or variable: pine slivers glued into every gap, then sanded flush.
Step 3
Fill & finish
Gaps sealed, boards sanded flush, stain-matched to the original tone, and finished with the client's choice of oil, wax or lacquer.
Step 4
Draught-seal the perimeter
Skirting-to-floor gaps are often the biggest culprit for draught. We seal those separately with a decorator's caulk before the final finish.
Step 5
Aftercare
You get a maintenance schedule — including winter humidity targets — so the gaps don't reopen. That's the difference between a fill that lasts 8 years and one that lasts 18 months.
Why Old Harlow clients pick us
- Straight advice: sometimes we recommend not filling — and we say so
- Sawdust matched to your floor for period-correct fill
- Straight advice: sometimes we recommend not filling — and we say so
- Sawdust matched to your floor for period-correct fill
The straight answer for Old Harlow
The floor you have is almost always worth saving. Fill, sand, finish — and the boards that were laid in 1898 in Old Harlow keep going for another century.
Gappy Floorboard Repair in Old Harlow — common questions
- Are there gaps you'd recommend not filling?
- Yes — some listed and heritage floors need sub-floor ventilation and the gaps are functional. We check building consents first and only fill where it's safe to do so.
- Will the filler crack out with seasonal movement?
- That's the whole point of choosing the right method. Rigid sawdust-resin cracks if boards move seasonally. Flexible fillet doesn't. We measure movement first and pick accordingly.
- Can you match the fill to the original board colour?
- Yes — that's why sawdust-and-resin is a favourite for period floors. The sawdust from your own floor is the pigment, so the match is exact. Flexible fillet is available in 12+ shades to blend.
- Can you fix gaps under carpet without disturbing it?
- No — sealing gaps means access to the top face of the boards. If you're planning to keep the carpet, we can seal the perimeter draught only, but that's a partial fix at best.
- Do I need to lift the floor and relay tight, or can gaps be filled in Old Harlow?
- For most period homes in CM17 we recommend filling, not relaying. Original boards are irreplaceable and lift-relay adds thousands to the cost. Fill-and-finish gets 90% of the benefit at 30% of the price.
- Will filling the gaps make my house warmer?
- In Old Harlow houses over an unheated void, yes — noticeably. Draughts through floor gaps are one of the biggest overlooked heat losses in period homes. Combined with perimeter sealing, we often see 10–15% heating-cost reductions reported.
Fill your gappy floor in Old Harlow
Survey, method advice, price — one visit.
Nearby CM areas we cover
Not all combinations are live yet — where a nearby link 404s, the same team still covers that area.