Installing hardwood floor, how do I handle the particle board subfloor?

Question

I am installing 3/4" hardwood floors. My subfloor is particle board and should not be used for hardwood installation. I should put a new plywood subfloor in. But the particle board runs underneath the walls, and cannot be completely removed. I could cut it out at the closest joist to the wall. Is there any recommendations on an overlayment of plywood, or a procedure to replace the subfloor?

Answer 1

Is this an accident of a keystroke?

Ah no it's more of what you added as detail in the previous Q.

Remove any Cove base, and install another Sub/Sub floor, If in fact your convinced by others, that the structure was designed with the abstract intent of having sub flooring that would become a sponge.

Steven Wolf

WOOD flooring seems to be a popular trend. I still suggest you tour NEW construction to see what materials are being used. I assume you'll find a fair amount of "Particle" or MDF being used for sub-flooring.

Answer 2

The main reason you cant install 3/4 wood over particle board is because the particle board can not support it when it shifts and does not handle well when nailing into it. I think that as long as you could get most of the particle board up you should be in the clear with new plywood as your subfloor.
If you haven't bought the wood yet I would suggest an engineered hardwood floor ( not laminate) It can be installed over the particle board because you can buy them to float. They are still considered real hardwood and you can refinish them one time if you need to.

If you have to change to plywood getting it our fo the way as far as you can might work but I would test it by puting a couple of pieces of wood nailed down at the edge. My main concern is that it will not hold up aroung the edges when the house shifts, The particle board will Shift/Shrink/Swell at different levels than plywood will.

Good luck

Answer 3

Particle Board Subfloor

Answer 4

If the subfloor is strong enough to support other types of flooring it should support hardwood floors. If your concern is that it won't hold nails use longer nails and be sure to nail through the subfloor into the joists or install a glue down floor or a floating floor.

Answer 5

cut the old out and replace it with the plywood. the particle board can cause some uneven-ness in the hardwood at a later date, it's just not a good move

Answer 6

Don't replace it. Place plywood over the subfloor.

Answer 7

Do not and I repeat do not put a layer over the particle board. Either remove the particle board and put down the proper plywood underlayment or accept the consequences of a poor job. This is one case where the extra time and expense of doing it completely correctly will pay off. Particle board should never be used anywhere in my opinion - it's cheap crap!! I wouldn't even use it for a dog house floor!