What kind of subfloor do you need for hardwood?

A wood subfloor should be OSB or plywood of 3/4″ or thicker for a hardwood floor installation. Particle board and chipboard are unacceptable for solid hardwood installations, but may be used in an engineered flooring install.

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Keeping this in consideration, do I need a subfloor for hardwood?

Engineered, Solid Wood or Floating Wood Flooring that are less than 1/2" thick can be installed over a wood plank subfloor as long as the 3/4" plank subfloor is flat. The hardwood flooring must be installed crossing the subfloor boards (at a 90 degree angle).

Also, how flat should subfloor be for hardwood floors? When nailing down a wood floor, the subfloor should be flat to within 1/4” in 10' or 3/16” in 6'. It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before installation. Installation of a wood floor over the subfloor insinuates acceptance by the flooring installer.

Regarding this, what goes under a hardwood floor?

Padding and Layers Under Solid Wood Flooring Paper or felt are two materials that are traditionally installed between hardwood flooring and subfloor. These materials help minimize squeaking that may occur between the bottom of the floorboards and the top of the subfloor.

How thick should subfloor be for hardwood floors?

1) Suitable Wood Flooring: Any. the subfloors need to be thicker. For joist spacing of more than 16 inches up to 19.2 inches on center, the minimum thickness for both plywood and OSB is 3/4 inch. For joists spaced more than 19.2 inches on center, the minimum thickness for plywood is 7/8 inch and for OSB, 1 inch.

Related Question Answers

Do I need a subfloor over concrete?

While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you'll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: Dampness control. Install a vapor barrier of plastic sheeting before laying the subfloor.

What is the recommended underlayment for hardwood flooring?

Floating engineered wood floors or solid-hybrid floors will use a padded underlayment such as Floor Muffler, while nail-down hardwood use paper underlayment such as Aquabar-B or Silicone Vapor Sheild.

How much does it cost to replace a subfloor?

Cost to Replace, Repair or Install Subfloor The average cost to replace or repair a plywood subfloor in a 306-square-foot room costs $555, or between $490 and $600. The average cost to install a new plywood subfloor is $620, or between $572 and $720.

How thick should a subfloor be?

Typically made of plywood or OSB and ranging in thickness from 19/32" to 1 1/8" thick, the subfloor is truly structural, second only to joists in this respect. Subfloor holds up all of the above layers of flooring, as well as everything in your house—people, dogs, cats, pianos, furniture. All houses have subfloors.

What is a subfloor in a bathroom?

Installed directly over the joists, the primary function of a subfloor is to create a flat solid surface for the finished flooring to rest on. Generally, this only refers to a layer of plywood but in the case of bathrooms, it includes an underlayment of concrete backerboard as well.

Do I need a moisture barrier under hardwood floors?

Sometimes, a moisture barrier is not recommended. If you're installing your hardwood floors over a wood subfloor, you should avoid using a moisture barrier. Over time, moisture can get trapped between the moisture barrier protecting your hardwood flooring and the wood subfloor.

Do you have to put anything under hardwood floors?

Staple or Nail Down Installation This hardwood felt paper is necessary to greatly reduce the chance of any moisture coming up through the subfloor and will help protect the new hardwood flooring. Even if you think you don't need it and you're tempted not to use it, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Do you need to glue tongue and groove flooring?

Don't Glue Tongue and Grooves This is because wood flooring needs room to move as it expands. So, if you're gluing on the tongue and grooves, you're better using a floating floor installation. If you're gluing to your subfloor, do not glue your planks together to allow for necessary movement.

Is it better to glue or float hardwood floors?

Benefits: Floating wood floors are easier to install than glue down floors and can be put into place faster. If you're trying to install a floor over a surface that traditional glue-down flooring can't attach to, you are better off going with a floating floor if you don't want to change your subfloor.

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

Hardwood Flooring Grades The cost of material will be between $3 and $5 per square foot, and depending on the complexity of the project/layout, installation can cost anywhere between $3 and $9 per square foot.

Does cork underlayment need a moisture barrier?

As a Class I material, our cork flooring underlayment is ideal for use in a wide range of applications and environments. It's vital for many flooring types, including hardwood, to have a form of moisture protection in case water seeps up from below the subfloor.

Do you need underlayment for engineered hardwood?

If you're installing laminate or engineered flooring that snaps together and floats over the subfloor without nails, you need underlayment even more. Besides all the other benefits, underlay helps support a floating floor. You may find that the flooring still requires a vapor barrier.

What is a good subfloor material?

Plywood Subflooring Plywood has been a standard subfloor material since the 1950s and remains the preferred subflooring for many builders. Standard plywood can be used for subfloors, but a better material is 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.

Can I put new subfloor over old subfloor?

One of the benefits of removing the old flooring is it allows you the chance to fix any loose subflooring or squeaks by re-securing the main subfloor to the floor joists prior to installing the new flooring. With all that being said though the answer is YES you can install New Wood Flooring over the old.

Can you use self leveling compound on wood subfloor?

These compounds are used to level out low areas in plywood substrates in preparation for laminate, wood or tile flooring installation. Self leveling compounds are simple to prepare and use, and are available in many formulations to meet a variety of flooring needs.

What goes between subfloor and hardwood?

Several intermediate layers that are sometimes directly installed between subflooring and solid hardwood flooring include:

• Red Rosin Paper or Builder's Felt.
• Solid Underlayment.
• Rubberized Membrane.
• Thick Underlayment With Intervening Plywood.
• Choosing Denser Hardwoods.
• Using Area Rugs and Runners.

What do you put under vinyl flooring?

Vinyl floors under 4mm should be installed right over the subfloor. If you have any areas on a concrete subfloor with moisture concerns, it is recommended to use a vapor barrier underlayment that will not add any cushion to the planks.

Can you glue down hardwood flooring wood subfloor?

To be able to glue your hardwood floor down the subfloor must be a solid and sound structure, for example, concrete or wooden floor boards. Place the hardwood flooring planks on top of the adhesive and push them together. There is no need to glue the planks together as they are fully bonded to the subfloor.

How do you fix an uneven floor before laying hardwood floors?

When you install wood floors on uneven surfaces, you must first use a leveling compound. The leveling compound is not difficult to use. You must locate the low spots on the floor using a 4-foot level, and then fill those areas with the compound.