Subfloor questions

House Repair Talk

Help Support House Repair Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

greenhands

New Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
sub flooring question and need help
Ok folks. I'm glad to be in a forum with experienced people that take the speculation out of hardwood flooring. I just stripped 4 layers of linoleum and wood floor and found particle board. I took up the 3/4 particle board and found it was also under the cabinets too, so I used a rotor zip and a chisel and I scribed around the cabinets leaving particle where it belongs- man! I found some rot in subfloor near the door and will have to replace that, but I noticed a little give (flex) in other areas of floor so I realized that this house is sitting on 1/2 plywood. I think joists are no more than 12 to 16" apart but can verify later time. Guy at Lowes says to use Fir plywood as it is stiffer for flooring needs. Then I start reading 3/4 is th eway to go to alleviate the problems.

My problem is my living room has hardwood and its most likely 1/2 inch. House was built around 61 in New England and the other parts of house have red oak hardood and few areas with small gaps and slight curling in hallway and some creaks - typical stuff. I have to keep 1/2 to make kitchen and living room flush.

Is there anything I need to consider here? Do I just replace all the 1/2 inch I can or have to add to the floor before doing this?

My friend who is a plumber and handy with flooring is willing to help me install only if I have all the prep work done because he hates doing that kind of work and is busy.

Thanks a Million Guys!
smile.gif
 
Properly glued and screwed Group 1 (Southern Pine, Western Larch and Doug Fir) 4-ply 1/2" plywood should not significantly deflect if your floor joists are at 12" centers. It sounds like you might have a floor joist deflection problem--have you taken a look at what might be going on there (span, spacing, depth, notching, etc.)?
 
Without exception everytime I've seen 1/2 ply and partical board used as a subfloor, there's sags between the joist, squecks, cupping and gaps in the hardwood.
Not sure what they were thinking back in the 70 but the track homes I've had to work on lots of times had 1/2 plywood then partical board floors.
The floors rot out in front of the doors, I've had people fall through the floor where it rotted out in front of the tub, toilets tip over because all the screws had pulled out of the flange.
I only use 3/4 T & G Advantec sub flooring glued and screwed. It makes for one strong non flexing floor and it hold staples or nails great. And moisture does not seem to effect it.
Your just not going to see a new house anymore being built with 1/2 subfloor.
 
Back
Top