Would you recommend filling the gaps in wooden floors?

[on_the_hill]

Hello, I'm after some advice if anyone has had any experience about this.

We're about to sand our floors, which have never been done and are tongue and grove. I've had mixed suggestions about whether to fill the gaps in between the boards. Some people reckon if you don't they become very dirty and difficult to clean, others have said it is all down to vacuuming periodically, plus there are some comments about how the house will be more difficult to heat as the heat won't rise to top floors as easily, but my thoughts are that they would also make the rooms keep the heat a bit better??

Any recommendations/experiences much appreciated.

[Lowlander]

Never heard of filling gaps in tongue and groove flooring? There wouldn't be any to begin with.

Do you mean regular floorboards?

[on_the_hill]

I do meant tongue and groove. They do not fit tightly, so there are gaps in between. Thanks.

[Lowlander]

Do you mind having gaps from an aesthetic view? Filling the gaps is not an exact science and everyone has an opinion on it. Personally I just live with them (non t&g flooring)

The two main reasons people fill them are for aesthetic reasons and to stop draughts. Better to lift the floor and suspend insulation underneath.

Floorboards move due to heat and humidity levels so the gap filling often cracks and falls out. I've yet to see it done perfectly (and would love to!). In fact that's why you have the gaps to begin with, to allow for movement, so the filling has to be flexible.

I've never heard the argument about the house being more difficult to heat, and the cost of filling the gaps would far, far outweigh any cost savings.

[Willard]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/dec/16/1

[JDR]

It depends why you are doing it and size of gaps. Our old house was done professionally and very well though if the boards flex a lot the filler comes out. New house has been neglected for years and getting th gaps clean virtually impossible. Also really cold in winter though my personal bug bear is the amount of toys that fall between them and are irretrievable...