How To Install Hardwood Floors Over Particle Board

This makes installing other flooring such as hardwood difficult over a particleboard floor.

How to install hardwood floors over particle board.

When thinking about installing wood flooring in a situation where the only subfloor is particle board you really only have one option. Most people use nails or hardwood staples to attach hardwood flooring to the subfloor but this is only an option if the subfloor is made of plywood. The home is about 35 years old. I pulled up all the carpet and found 3 4 particle board over 1 2 plywood board subfloor underneath the carpet.

Prior to installing any finished flooring it is important to remember. The sub floor should be even and there should not be any major cracks or deterioration. How to install wood flooring over particle board. Once you have insured the particle is in good condition you are able to install any floating type flooring engineered hardwood strand woven bamboo or eucalyptus laminate or cork over the particle board.

A floating install is the only way to go over it and i don t know of any 3 4 solid on the market that you can float. Hardwood flooring that is fastened by any method whether it be mechanical fasteners or glue should not go over particle board. To clarify this is not osb and this is not just a particle board overlay over plywood the entire subfloor is 3 4 particle board looks like oatmeal. There are several issues with this subfloor.

The floors are creaky and warped in places and i ve been strongly advised not to install hardwood floors over particle board as they cannot hold nails and will deteriorate if water is spilled. I am considering kahrs and wfi. That option is floating a floor over top of the subfloor. It is particle board and not osb.

Also most flooring stores in hot springs ar carry harris tarkett longstrip but haven t found any that carry kahrs wfi. The reason you can only float a floor over particle board is because nails won t hold in the particle board and glue will ruin the particle board. Last year we installed solid oak hardwood floor in our main bedroom and family room. When to add plywood if you re stapling laminate flooring around the edges of the room you should be.

We also go over questions regarding particle board and installing new hardwood flooring over old wood flooring. To our dismay when we ripped up the old carpet we found that the whole subfloor was covered with particle board. Using a standard nail gun to install the floor was out of the question particle board isn t structurally sound enough to bite nails. Re secure any loose wood subfloor planks osb or plywood subfloors to the floor joists using 2 1 2 deck screws.

The particle board does not run under the walls.