Gap Filling
Gaps between floorboards in Croydon filled with resin or reclaimed pine slivers to cut draughts and dirt traps.
Most period floors develop gaps between the boards over time. They can cause draughts, trap dirt and look untidy once the floor is sanded. Gap filling is a simple way to make a room more comfortable.
Gap filling is normally done alongside floorboard restoration and our wider floor sanding service. 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, neat and ideal for stable floors.
Timber 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.
Important: gap filling and our guarantee
Timber floors move — they swell in damp months, shrink when the heating is on, and flex with the structure of the house. Because of this, filler can crack or work loose and slivers can open slightly over time. Gap filling is therefore excluded from our service guarantee. The sanding and finishing on the same floor is still covered by our 3-month guarantee.
Reduces draughts and heat loss
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 explain the options at the free survey and include them clearly in your quote. Underfloor insulation is another option if draughts are the main concern.
When we fill the gaps
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
Can you quote from photos?
For many jobs, yes. Photos of the floor plus rough measurements let us give a guide price quickly. We confirm it with a short visit before work starts, so the final quote is fixed.
Are the finishes safe for children and pets?
They are. We use low-VOC oils and water-based lacquers that are safe for families and pets once cured. Keep pets off the floor for the first 24 hours, and keep claws trimmed to help the finish last.
Why is gap filling not guaranteed?
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 choose the method that suits your floor best to keep this to a minimum.
How do you fill gaps between floorboards?
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.
Does gap filling make a room warmer?
It usually makes a real difference. Gaps between floorboards let draughts rise from under the floor. Filling them makes rooms cosier and stops dirt collecting between boards.
Can old pine floorboards be restored?
Yes — original boards often hide beautiful timber under old paint and varnish. We knock down protruding nails, replace split boards and sand back to fresh timber. Read our guide to Victorian floorboards for the full process.
What our customers say
Honest advice — no unnecessary work
“I asked for a full sand, but after looking at the floor they said a fresh coat of lacquer would do. Half the price and the floor looks like new. Rare honesty.”
Sanderstead
Fair price, brilliant finish
“Clear quote with no surprises. They explained the oil options without any pressure and the colour sample matched what we wanted perfectly.”
Sanderstead
Great advice on staining
“I had picked a colour from a brochure, but on our pine it would have looked almost black. The samples showed us a better option and the floor looks brilliant.”
Norbury