Floorboard repairs we do
Damaged or stained boards
Water-stained, burnt or split boards cut out and replaced. Tongue-and-groove boards need care to remove without damaging their neighbours; the new board is fitted and face-fixed or glued.
Patches where something came out
A wall removed, a heater taken out or a floor vent moved leaves a gap in the boards. We fill it with boards of matching width and timber, staggering the joins so the patch doesn't show as a block.
Squeaky and lifted boards
Boards squeak when they rub on each other or on a loose nail. Refixing them to the joists with screws or new nails usually quietens them.
Gaps and cupping
Boards that gap in winter and close in summer are moving with the seasons. Cupped boards usually point to moisture underneath, which needs finding first.
Matching old Canberra floors
Many 1960s and 1970s Canberra homes have hardwood tongue-and-groove floors under the carpet. Older boards can be a width or thickness that's no longer stocked, so we look for recycled boards of the same timber or a close match. New boards look lighter until the floor is sanded and coated.
Bouncing or sagging floors
A floor that bounces, slopes or sags usually has a problem below the boards: a rotten or undersized joist, a bearer that's dropped, or a stump that's moved.
Subfloor repairs need a licensed builder
Bearers, joists and stumps carry the house, so replacing them is a structural repair that needs a licensed ACT builder. Get a quote from a licensed builder for subfloor work.
Under the floor in older homes
Some older Canberra homes have asbestos in the subfloor or under the floor coverings, and homes on the loose-fill asbestos register have rules for work that may disturb the subfloor. WorkSafe ACT says any property built before 2003 must be assumed to contain asbestos. Tell us the year the house was built. See the asbestos guide.
What to send us
- Which room, and photos of the damaged boards
- How many boards, and their width
- The timber, if you know it
- Whether the floor will be sanded and coated afterwards
- The year the house was built
Questions about floorboard repairs in Canberra
Can you replace just a few floorboards?
Yes. Damaged boards can be cut out and replaced without taking up the floor, as long as matching boards can be found.
Will new boards match the old floor?
They'll match in width and timber where we can source it. The colour evens out once the whole floor is sanded and coated.
How do you stop floorboards squeaking?
Most squeaks are boards rubbing or moving on loose fixings. Refixing the boards to the joists usually stops it.
Why are my floorboards cupping?
Cupping usually means moisture under the floor. Find and fix the moisture before replacing boards, or the new ones will cup too.
Do you sand and polish floors?
We repair and replace the boards. Floor sanding and coating is a separate trade; we can leave the floor ready for your sander.
Where this information comes from
The rules and figures on this page come from these published pages, checked on 8 October 2026.
- WorkSafe ACT: identify and remove asbestos before residential renovations · WorkSafe ACT safety alert, 16 January 2025
- ACT Government: Affected Residential Premises Register · Loose-fill asbestos register, updated quarterly (as at 30 June 2026)
