Split floorboards

[victorianissues]

We recently had some insulation put on our bedroom, the team had to lift the original flooring.
Unfortunately they had to cut in places, and placed them back in using screws whereas they were held down with some pretty ancient nails. I've noticed splitting in some of the boards.
These were one of few original features left and we're pretty gutted. What would be the precedent here? Will this require getting some expensive specialist in to fix? Would the company expect to cover these kind of costs?
This is our first home and this room is our first rennovation project so unsure and anxious on how to proceed.
Pictures attached - any help would be very much appreciated

 

[Itchinfilth]

Lifting and refitting boards is a risky business. Looks like the screws may have caused the splitting looking at where the cracks are. Not sure what recourse you have unfortunately. The screws are unsightly. You may be able to remove, resecure with nails and fill the cracks. I'll leave it to the more savvy on methodology for this as my battered old floor boards are riddled with imperfections and I'm happy with it

 

[Cubist]

How comfortable are you using a few simple tools? Any decent joiner in your locality could easily make the essential repairs and make some improvement to the cosmetic appeal of those boards that have been damaged, but you could do as well yourself.

To explain. Given that screws have been used to re-fix the boards this means that you could easily remove the screws and lift the boards out. Those boards that have suffered splits can then be repaired using simple clamps and a strong wood glue - the clamps would be used to force the splits closed after the glue has been applied. Once the glue has dried to clamps can be removed and any excess glue can be removed from the surface of the boards. If needy be wooden splints could then be glued to the underside of the boards as additional re-infrorcement (think of splints as used for a broken bone). Then, after drilling and countersinking new screw holes in the boards surface the boards can be screwed back down to the joists and a little filler used to bury and hide the screw heads. A little stain or dye colouring can then be used to camouflage the filler.

Its also very easy to jury rig a simple clamp with a couple of spare lengths of batten and some wood screws.

 

[Paris2007]

I can’t offer any advise on how to repair the floorboards but I am intrigued. Were you putting insulation under the floorboards?

We are moving into a flying freehold property with our neighbours bedroom under our lounge so was thinking of insulation under floorboards as an additional measure for soundproofing.

 

[victorianissues]

I can’t offer any advise on how to repair the floorboards but I am intrigued. Were you putting insulation under the floorboards?

We are moving into a flying freehold property with our neighbours bedroom under our lounge so was thinking of insulation under floorboards as an additional measure for soundproofing.

Yes this was an unfortunate consequence of getting insulation put between the joists! I will say the room feels warmer at least

 

[victorianissues]

How comfortable are you using a few simple tools? Any decent joiner in your locality could easily make the essential repairs and make some improvement to the cosmetic appeal of those boards that have been damaged, but you could do as well yourself.

To explain. Given that screws have been used to re-fix the boards this means that you could easily remove the screws and lift the boards out. Those boards that have suffered splits can then be repaired using simple clamps and a strong wood glue - the clamps would be used to force the splits closed after the glue has been applied. Once the glue has dried to clamps can be removed and any excess glue can be removed from the surface of the boards. If needy be wooden splints could then be glued to the underside of the boards as additional re-infrorcement (think of splints as used for a broken bone). Then, after drilling and countersinking new screw holes in the boards surface the boards can be screwed back down to the joists and a little filler used to bury and hide the screw heads. A little stain or dye colouring can then be used to camouflage the filler.

Its also very easy to jury rig a simple clamp with a couple of spare lengths of batten and some wood screws.

Thank you so, so much for this - is there a high risk of the boards splitting again when reinstalling? I'd be nervous about putting screws/nails back through the glued areas!

 

[Cubist]

Yes there is and ideally, if you can, it's wise to pre-drill and countersink new holes, away from the splits, to fix the boards to the joists below, before finally screwing them down. Be careful too not to put too much 'elbow' into screwing them down and if you're using am electric drill driver start off at its lowest torque setting.