replacing particle board subfloor
urungus
16 years ago
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floorguy
16 years agomomfromthenorth
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Particle board subfloors
Comments (5)It will probably void most warranties to apply to particle board but most warranties arent backed up anyway. I have installed over particle board many times simply because of the cost issue and have not had any problems. With using an air nailer the nails go in so fast at at such an angle that they grip very well and decrease the chances of a blowout. I would check the area very carefully for squeeks and screw down those areas and possibly screw down the entire area. Only speaking for myself and 35 years of remodeling and never a call back....See MoreHardwood flooring project - Particle board subfloor
Comments (1)Yuck particleboard. You have my sympathy. We just went through the exact same thing. We took bids from several flooring co's and contractors. In our opinion, the best solution was the following, and that's what we did. The floor planks are just now being installed and look great: 1. Remove the particleboard using a skilsaw and crowbar. Also remove any felt/paper below it. This took 2 guys less than an hour per 100 square feet. 2. If your subfloor is less than 5/8" plywood, add an additional layer of 5/8" CD/X plywood. Lay it down in the opposite direction of the existing subfloor, glue and screw it, probably into the joists (ask someone about that). We used exterior fir plywood, not advantech or OSB or interior underlayment. This took 2 guys about 3 days to do 1000+ square feet. 3. Install the hardwood planks the standard way. Our contractor said no need for any vapor barrier, for us. I get the idea from experts that paper may have been more useful back when subfloor was 1x6 boards -- it would have given a smoother installation surface and also prevented dust from falling through the floor into whatever was below it. I personally hate particleboard so I advocate removing it. The time-consuming aspects of the overall job are installing the additional plywood and the floor planks -- removing the particleboard is comparatively not much work. If you leave it in, you will have to put at least 5/8" ply on top to conform to wood floor manufacturers' warranty requirements. And that will lower your ceiling height, which may be an issue if you're in a 1960s/70s era house. Plus, a particleboard sandwich on ply just doesn't seem very stable (or nutritious). I'm no expert but I trust my contractor and he has a pristine reputation. Hope this helps!...See Morereplace particle board before install HW
Comments (4)Thanks for the responses: Jerry t--I have been quoted about 1400 (roughly) total sq feet, and it is our home. The $9000 quote for simply removing particle board then replacing with plywood was only one aspect of a very high estimate. I think that what we may end up doing is pulling up the particle board ourselves and either paying the installer or having my husband put down the plywood. I am just not comfortable having the flooring installed over just the subfloor. I don't believe the subfloor is 3/4" anyway and that just makes it worse in my opinion! Floorguy, the plywood simply looks like a 4x4 sheet (or something approximating those dimensions); I see no indication that there is T & G by looking at it....See MoreLeveling a manufactured home particle board floor
Comments (12)And just for fun, self leveling cement (SLC) is not self leveling. It has maximum and minimum requirements for thickness. The type of water you use, the temperature and the humidity in the home at the time it is mixed (and sometimes even altitude) will affect the work-ability of the SLC. Let's just say you will have LOTS of learning ahead of you. While you are taking out the fibre board (yep...either take it out or lay down new plywood over top) someone can be practicing mixing batches and spreading it on random pieces of plywood (that you purchased extra off just so you can practice)....See Morepuff_2007
16 years agourungus
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16 years agofloorguy
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