I am putting down 8 mm laminate flooring and when I get rid of the existing carpet I find the builder has put some type of hardwood flooring (small oak boards 4 feet long by 3/8 inch thick tongue and groove and nailed in the usual hardwood fashion), down directly on the 1x7 inch diagonal sub floor which runs at a 45 dgree angle across the top of the floor joices. I have a lot of squeaks so I need a stiffer sub floor/underlay combination. I have tried to screw the hard wood down to the sub floor boards (between the joices), but of course it just spilts when the head of the screw tries to counter-sink into the hardwood and you could never tighten it together. Can I put 3/8 chip-board down on top of this existing hardwood flooring and screw it to the sub floor (diagonal) boards.
Answer:
The dieagnally laid sub-flooring will have to be properly nailed down after you remove everything from it. Four spriral nails (2.5") per board per joist should do that for you. You could probably get away with 2" hot galvanized spiral nails as they hold better. I'd also drive them in at a slight angel laying across the joists they go into. You can then lay in the new flooring by following (to the letter) the instructions that come with your new laminate product. I cannot over-stress that everything that is presently there has to be removed from the sub-flooring though. Laying anything over the existing hardwood will only give you more squeaks.
In the interests of retaining credibility and in fairness to all, I cannot recommend prices, people nor companies for various projects. Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com. I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Home Focus – The Radio Show is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com.
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