Engineered wood flooring installation - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

graart · 07-30-2007, 07:34 PM

I'll be installing engineered wood glue-down flooring. Would you guys put 1/4 in BC plywood on the top of the existing subfloor OSB (coverd by carpet now), or go directly to OSB?

If 1/4 in plywood: would you screw it to OSB or glue and screw?

Thanks for your expertise.

Demal · 07-30-2007, 07:54 PM

If you added under layment, what would that do to the rest of the house? Are there any areas that the new floor is going to touch?

graart · 07-30-2007, 08:10 PM

The new floor will be in an addition ( new subfloor OSB) and the rest od the downstairs will be at the same level after the carpet is removed.

Mike Costello · 07-31-2007, 06:21 AM

OSB=Oriented strand board. Height be damned you need to put a subfloor down.
There is nothing that I know of that will warantee over OSB.
I wouldnt even glue carpet to it.

Mike Costello · 07-31-2007, 06:40 AM

If you have any doubt , take one strip of the flooring and glue it to the floor, go back tomorrow and yank it up, youll see the top layer of veneer stuck to the bottom of your plank

lawndart · 08-01-2007, 12:56 AM

Mike Costello is correct. OSB is not a good subfloor for flooring installations. May I ask why you are gluing down your hardwood floors? Is this area below grade?

graart · 08-01-2007, 09:45 PM

The instructions for this particular engineered flooring (TraficMaster from Home Depot) says that it is a gluedown flooring. I think I need to follow instructions (??)

I was thinking about putting a 1/4 inch BC plywood underlayment on the OSB subfloor. QUESTION: should i glue it or screw it (or both) to the OSB?

thanks in advance for your advice!

Mike Costello · 08-02-2007, 05:27 AM

I always thought Trafficmaster was a laminate product?

If its a true engineered hardwood it can be glued or nailed. As I pointed out before, you wont be able to glue it over osb so if your gonna glue you'll need the subfloor. I install my subfloors with 1 1/2" long 1/4 " crown staples. Every 4 inches in the field and every 2 on the seams.

Ive had bad luck with screws due to the heads popping off and for the same reason as the hardwood you wont be able to glue onto the osb

dvon104 · 08-02-2007, 05:35 AM

What about a 1/4" luan ?...do not Know ...just asking ...some of the flooring guy's here use that ...but I sell 2x4's not flooring ...just wanted to pipe in

Angus · 08-02-2007, 10:10 AM

Luan is not an accepted underlayment for any flooring. Use a 1/4" plywood underlayment. Nail it with ring shanked nails, or better yet, screws. Traffic master is garbage. For a little more money, try the engineered flooring from Bruce's. Much better quality, and much nicer finished product. Shaw and Mohawk also have good products.

graart · 08-07-2007, 07:52 PM

Thanks you all for your advice! I'm returning the Traficmaster and will get 3/4 inch planks for nailing.