Gap Filling
Gaps between floorboards in Barnet filled with resin or reclaimed pine slivers to cut draughts and dirt traps.
Over the years, floorboards shrink and gaps open up between them. They let in cold air from under the floor, collect dust and can spoil the look of a freshly sanded floor. Gap filling is a simple way to make a room more comfortable.
We usually fill gaps as part of a floorboards restoration, between sanding passes. That way the filled gaps are sanded flush with the boards before the finish goes on.
How we fill gaps
Resin and sanding dust
For narrower gaps, we mix a resin with fine dust from your own floor so the colour blends in. It is quick and neat, and suits floors that do not move much.
Reclaimed pine slivers
Wider gaps are filled with thin strips of reclaimed pine, glued into one side of the gap and planed flush. Slivers move with the boards and generally last longer than filler in wide gaps.
A note on floor movement
Timber floors move — they swell in damp months, shrink when the heating is on, and flex with the structure of the house. This natural movement means that filled gaps can crack or reopen. Gap filling is therefore excluded from our service guarantee. The rest of your restoration — sanding and finishing — is still covered for 3 months.
Warmer rooms with fewer draughts
Stops dust and crumbs collecting
A neater, more even finish
Is gap filling right for your floor?
Gap filling is optional. Some customers like the traditional look of open joints, while others want a warmer, more uniform floor. If gaps are very wide or boards are rocking, it is usually better to lift and re-lay the boards tightly together. We will talk you through the choices during the free survey. If draughts are your main worry, we can also discuss other ways to reduce them.
Timing
Gaps are filled after the first sanding pass, once the boards are clean and the true width of each gap is visible. Once set, everything is sanded level with the boards before finishing. It usually adds half a day to a typical room.
Read more about the options in our guide to resin or slivers. If boards are badly damaged, our floorboards repairs service replaces them first. Prices are listed on our prices page.
Guide prices
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Floor sanding & oiling
Dust-free sanding back to fresh timber, finished with two coats of hardwax oil.
from £22 per m²
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Floor sanding & lacquer
Full sand and three coats of hard-wearing water-based lacquer.
from £24 per m²
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Parquet sanding & finishing
Multi-direction sanding for block and herringbone floors, with your choice of finish.
from £28 per m²
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Gap filling
Resin filler or reclaimed pine slivers between floorboards.
from £6 per m²
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Floor staining
Colour samples on your floor and an even stain before finishing.
from £5 per m²
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Stairs stripping & restoration
Paint and varnish removal, repairs and finishing of treads and risers.
from £45 per step
Guide prices — we confirm a fixed price after a free survey.
Questions about gap filling
How are your prices worked out?
The cost depends on the size of the floor, its condition and the finish. Our price list shows typical starting prices, and the free survey gives you a fixed written quote.
Will filled gaps stay closed?
Gap filling is excluded from our service guarantee. Wooden floors expand and shrink with the seasons and with movement in the building, which can open small cracks in the filler. We use the most suitable method for your floor to keep this to a minimum.
Can old pine floorboards be restored?
Usually, yes. Period pine boards sand up beautifully. We punch down nails, replace split boards and sand back to fresh timber. Read our guide to Victorian floorboards for the full process.
Resin or slivers — which is better for gaps?
Smaller gaps are filled with resin mixed with fine sanding dust, so the colour matches. Wider gaps get thin pine slivers glued in and sanded flush. Our gap filling guide compares the two.
Do you need to visit to give a price?
For many jobs, yes. Photos of the floor plus rough measurements let us give a guide price within a working day. We confirm it with a short visit before work starts, so the final quote is fixed.
Will filling gaps stop draughts?
Yes, noticeably. Gaps between floorboards let draughts rise from under the floor. Filling them makes rooms feel warmer and stops dirt collecting between boards.
What our customers say
Quick, clean and professional
“We had the hallway and living room sanded and lacquered over two days. They protected the skirting and doors, and they hoovered up before leaving each evening.”
High Barnet
No more draughts
“Our front room was always cold because of the gaps in the boards. They filled them with pine slivers blend in perfectly and we have felt the difference already. They were upfront that filled gaps can move with the seasons, which I appreciated.”
New Barnet
Lacquered floor looking fresh
“Our lacquered oak had lots of fine scratches from the dog. A light abrade and new coat of lacquer has made it smooth and shiny again. Useful advice on felt pads and mats as well.”
East Barnet