Hello,

I am remodeling my attic to make it as a bedroom and was hoping to leave existing floor. There are thick, wide pine boards, original to the house that was built in 1948. I was just going to put some oil on it and that's it.

When the building inspector came, he said he wouldn't approve existing flooring as a final floor because gaps between boards are too big. I'm not going to say what I though about it... just to the point..

have few choices:

1. Try to fill the gaps somehow.
2. Install the subfloor (inspector said it has to be at least 3/4 inch think plywood) and cover it with carpet, laminate or vinyl.
3. Install solid hardwood over existing flooring, and I was told it would have to be installed perpendicular to existing boards.

I don't like Second option because material and labor for plywood alone will be over $700 if not more, I might as well put it towards option 1 or 3.
It's approx. 450 sf, it's a small cape.

I really would like to use existing boards, they are beautiful, thick, weathered but realized it might not be possible to fill all the gaps.

What is your option on that project?

Loose lay some cheap carpet over it to get the approval. Then pull it out afterwards.

Or, you can nail directly into the pine boards without plywood. Thats been done for centuries.