Ferndown · Dorset
Floor joist repairs in Ferndown
Floor joist repairs in Ferndown start underneath the boards, not on top of them. We look at the joist ends, the sleeper walls and the ventilated void before suggesting sistering, splicing or replacement, so the price reflects the timber you actually have.
Guide price from£260per joist inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH22
- Population
- about 18,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
What is the ground like in Dorset?
Ferndown is in Dorset and takes in postcode districts BH22. About 18,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Wimborne Minster (4 miles), Bournemouth (6 miles) and Christchurch (7 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Dorset. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Dorset, most homes are stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
From first photo to finished repair
Photos and a call
Send photos of the dip or soft area, the outside wall at ground level and any air bricks. A short call about when it started, and any recent plumbing or heating work, tells us whether the problem is local or widespread.
Lift boards and inspect
On site we lift a few boards where the floor is worst and check the joist ends, sleeper walls and void with a moisture meter. Outside, we look for high ground, blocked vents and leaks keeping the timber wet.
Repair the structure
Boards are lifted and numbered if they are going back, and rotten timber is cut out. New treated timber is fixed and checked with a level before strutting, hangers and any restraint straps go in.
Symptoms that point to floor joist repairs
- A gap opening up between the skirting board and the floor
- Ceiling cracks below that follow the line of the joists
- Floor dipping towards an outside wall or in the middle of the room
Guide prices for floor joist repairs in Ferndown
The ranges below reflect typical South West costs for floor joist repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Splicing or sistering a damaged joist | £260 – £410 | per joist |
| Whole room of joists and boards | £2,050 – £6,200 | per room |
| Sleeper wall rebuild and ventilationest. | £410 – £1,550 | per room |
Methods for floor joist repairs
Sistering a joist
A new length of treated timber, the same depth as the original, is bolted or screwed alongside the damaged joist so the two share the load. It is the quickest fix for a notched, cracked or sagging joist that is otherwise sound, usually after lifting a few boards.
Best for: Cut, cracked or sagging joists with sound ends
Replacing joists and boards
When rot or woodworm runs through most of a floor, it is usually cheaper to replace the joists, strutting and boards together. Where joists run parallel to an outside wall, restraint straps tie the new floor back to it so the wall keeps its lateral support.
Best for: Widespread rot, or a whole floor that has dropped
Rules for floor joist repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of floor joist repairs in Ferndown?
Guide prices for floor joist repairs in Ferndown start from about £260 per joist, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out floor joist repairs in Ferndown?
Yes, Ferndown is covered, along with postcode districts BH22. We also cover nearby Wimborne Minster and Bournemouth.
Does the ground around Ferndown cause cracking?
Dorset mixes chalk downs, Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays in the vales, and the sands and gravels of the Poole basin. Clay vales can shrink and swell, and parts of the coast are known for landslip. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Is a sagging floor dangerous?
A gentle, long-standing sag is usually not dangerous, and many older floors have moved slightly over a century. A sag that is getting worse, soft boards or a floor dropping near a wall needs checking soon, because rotten joist ends can lose their bearing.
Will my insurance pay for rotten floor joists?
Usually not, because rot, woodworm and gradual wear are standard exclusions. Damage from a sudden escape of water, or a floor that dropped through subsidence, may be treated differently. Check your policy, and tell your insurer before permanent repairs start if either applies.
More repairs we carry out in Ferndown
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Underpinning
Floor joist repairs near Ferndown
If a floor in Ferndown has dropped after plumbing or heating work, send photos of any lifted boards and notches, and we will price the strengthening.