Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Underlayment over old pine floor before new flooring
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Olivier
08-14-08, 04:12 PM
Still planning out my flooring project. Situation is an late 1800's New Orleans home with a worn out pine floor on joists, no underlayment. The floor is structurally sound, but I have some levelling and smoothing to do because of cupping and some out of level joists.
Don't want to completely rip out the existing floor and go with a normal underlayment (living in the house and would cause major disruption). Research tells me that I can add an underlayment over the existing (levelled and smoothed) pine floor and then go over that with flooring.
Some sources say 1/4" is okay, others recommend 3/8" or 1/2". I'd prefer the thinner 1/4" to keep the floor height change to a minimum, but don't want problems later on either.
If I go with a 1/4", is there a specific type I should use? I've seen that luan is not recommended.
Also, tell me if I'm barking up the wrong tree and should bite the bullet on the thicker underlayment.
Don't want to completely rip out the existing floor and go with a normal underlayment (living in the house and would cause major disruption). Research tells me that I can add an underlayment over the existing (levelled and smoothed) pine floor and then go over that with flooring.
Some sources say 1/4" is okay, others recommend 3/8" or 1/2". I'd prefer the thinner 1/4" to keep the floor height change to a minimum, but don't want problems later on either.
If I go with a 1/4", is there a specific type I should use? I've seen that luan is not recommended.
Also, tell me if I'm barking up the wrong tree and should bite the bullet on the thicker underlayment.