Hello. I am redoing about 800 square feet of floors of a 1950’s rancher. Here are some specifications about the job. The house is a rectangle roughly 50 feet by 25 feet. The floor joists run the distance of the short part of the house. The original floors are red oak. The sub floor is tongue and groove and the board width is about 3 times the size of the red oak. Both the sub floor boards and the red oak run the same direction, the long part of the house. Since the sub floor and the hardwood floor run the same direction, any movement in the sub floor has caused the hardwood floor to move. Since the gaps are very wide, I have opted for a new floor over refinishing the original floor. I have been given two options for a new floor.
<!—-><!—-> <!—->Option 1
– Install a NEW red oak hardwood floor on top of the existing hardwood floor, but run the new floor board in the opposite direction.
– I was told this would help tie the sub floor to the new floor since they are running in opposing directions.
Option 2
– Remove the original hardwood red oak floor.
– Inspect the original (over 50 yrs old) tongue and grove sub floor and repair where problems are uncovered.
– Install the new floor over the original sub floor but in the opposite direction of the sub floor.
<!—-> <!—->I would appreciate any opinions about the pluses and minuses of each option as well as an opinion of the best option. Thanks.
Replies
Is it cheaper to install the new hw than restoring the existing hw?
Post this question at the building forum "breaktime" you'll see it up above.
If you could, post a picture or two when you post at breaktime.
I would never install hardwood over existing hardwood. The main reason being that floor would be too built up. You'll need to cut your doors, etc and it would not look very good. Pulling it up isn't easy but you could do it with minimal time. I would talk to a few hardwood pros though and see if they can fix those gaps. That would be the easiest and cheapest option. Also red oak is a nice floor and your wood floor is a much better quality wood than you can get red oak in now.
Also mention where you live in the new post so people in that general area can chim in and give you more info
I would not change direction. My advice would be to pull it all up and put down 3/4" plywood subfloor and then put down the oak perpendicular to the joists. More work but its alot of $ , lets not take chances.