Need some advice on this one. Want to replace some carpet and an inlaid floor with hardwood (prefinished Ash). This in my own home. House built 1976. Under the living room carpet is 3/4″ particleboard with 5/8″ plywood under that. The kitchen has 3/4″ and 5/8″ plywood. The hardwood floor dealers say no go to nailing or gluing to particleboard. I was wondering if the nails would go all the way to the plywood and thus hold well enough?? The dealers say we can float a 3″ or wider engineered floor but I wonder if you would end up with a loud floor to walk on( something like laminate). My experience with hardwood has been with older homes, no particleboard to date. Is my only alternative to rip up the particleboard?? Thanks for all your help.
Dana
Salmon Falls Housewrights
Replies
I would rip it up. It doesn't hold staples or nails well and is a sponge when it comes to soaking up moisture. If glue down (edit. sorry gabe, meant if he was gluing down the hardwood), I would still get rid of it. You could overlay, but it's crap personality would still be there, with the potential of moving around. To go to the expense and trouble of laying a beautiful prefinished ash floor, don't scrimp with the prep. Best of luck.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 8/5/2003 9:43:45 PM ET by calvin
Highly unlikely the particle board was glued down, probably only nailed down.
I would need a good reason to take it out unless you had some soft spots or squeaks in the floor and wanted to repair them first.
Particle board is not my favourite substrate but has been nailed to a million times in a million homes. Staples will go through the particle board and into the plywood without any problem.
Good luck with your project.
Gabe
Thanks for the help. Now I have to convince the wife it's ok.
Dana
Salmon Falls Housewrights
Ditto Gabe's comment...millions of sq. ft. of floors are nailed to particle board. Bostitch staples are coated and will grab and hold.
Ditch
I certainly will defer to the floor guy. Thanks.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Thanks for the help. If we go ahead I'm definitely going with the staples.
Dana
Salmon Falls Housewrights