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I am about to install salvaged 3/4″ X 2 1/4″ maple in the main floor above a walk out basement. Current floor is carpet over 3/8″ particle board over 3″ pine T & G. The pine is creaky and has shrunk enough that some tongues and grooves are complete disengaged. Location is the semi-arid west, 14″ of rainfall yearly and relative humidity hovers around 30% most of the year.
Should I remove the particle board or lay directly over the pine subfloor? Is a vapor barrier needed?
Someone suggested staples, are they better than nails?
Thanks in advance, all comments appreciated!
Replies
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I am about to install salvaged 3/4" X 2 1/4" maple in the main floor above a walk out basement. Current floor is carpet over 3/8" particle board over 3" pine T & G. The pine is creaky and has shrunk enough that some tongues and grooves are complete disengaged. Location is the semi-arid west, 14" of rainfall yearly and relative humidity hovers around 30% most of the year.
Should I remove the particle board or lay directly over the pine subfloor? Is a vapor barrier needed?
Someone suggested staples, are they better than nails?
Thanks in advance, all comments appreciated!
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Rob,
I would remove the particle board, nail or screw off the T & G subfloor, and install the hardwood. If the subfloor is in as bad a shape as it sounds, I would put a layer of 3/8" plywood over it before the hardwood. This would be especially important if the subfloor and hardwood are oriented the same way.
I would also wait until the humidity is down for a few days and do the installation during a dry spell.
I've had a lot of good luck with an air stapler for hardwood floors, highly recomended.
I don't usually put a vapor barrier over conditioned basement space, but I doubt that it would hurt in your situation.
Red dog