Looking at installing 400 sq ft of 3/4 x 2 1/4 oak prefinished in a living room – hall, rosin paper under, 2 inch “powercleats” over 3/4 inch “chip board” in a 4 year old house. We have never used the chip board on floors or roofs – never trusted it.
Will this stuff hold the nail good enough? Will it squeak? There is probably room to put 1/2 plywood down without causing a thickness problem – should we?
thanks,
Fz
Replies
Definetly laminate a layer of ply.
If you can get away with 3/4", you're better off.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
I dont think that chip board was ever intended for Hardwood floors. Just hold grip your nails for as long as you'd like. I think you'll hear it before you see it.
Yeah it sure would be nice to get some Plywood down. even that 1/4 would be better than nothing.
But if you cant, get your self a 5 gallon bucket of adhesive Trowel it , lay the floor, nail it. Staples over cleats. But thats just me.
Chipboard ... is that OSB or something more like particle board? Some osb works well, like Advantech. Particle board or mdf isn't going to work.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
With a 4yr. old house, the 3/4" "chipboard" is probably Advantech. It's a very good product, with a 50 yr. warrantee, and you can lay the hardwood directly over it. Chipboard was a questionable product back in the 70's depending on the manufacturer, it was usually 7/16" - 1/2" thick and it's unlikely that the product was used for subflooring. Particle board is another product that some call "chipboard", it is used as an underlayment for carpet. Normally this is used over a subfloor of plywood, but not as frequently these days. I've never heard of "powercleats".
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match