Installing Solid Hardwood Floors Over Particle Board

Hardwood flooring that is fastened by any method whether it be mechanical fasteners or glue should not go over particle board.

Installing solid hardwood floors over particle board.

The reason you can only float a floor over particle board is because nails won t hold in the particle board and glue will ruin the particle board. To our dismay when we ripped up the old carpet we found that the whole subfloor was covered with particle board. We want to install either laminate or hardwood flooring throughout most of our home. They are available in 3 4 inch thickness as well as low profile styles that are 5 16 to 5 8 inch thick which are a good or installing over existing flooring.

The reason floating installations work and are the best suited for installation over a particleboard sub floor is because a floating floor is not secured to the sub floor in any area. When thinking about installing wood flooring in a situation where the only subfloor is particle board you really only have one option. The home is about 35 years old. It is particle board and not osb.

Installing solid hardwood floors over particleboard plain and simple answer is no. Last year we installed solid oak hardwood floor in our main bedroom and family room. Once you have insured the particle is in good condition you are able to install any floating type flooring engineered hardwood strand woven bamboo or eucalyptus laminate or cork over the particle board. If desired particle board underlayment can be left in place if a floating engineered wood floor or a floating laminate floor system is going to be installed over it.

If this type of underlayment is present it will have to be removed when planning to install a nail or glue down hardwood floor. But the additional height of both the particle board and the new flooring may pose a problem with doors and appliances. I pulled up all the carpet and found 3 4 particle board over 1 2 plywood board subfloor underneath the carpet. The particle board does not run under the walls.

Like unfinished hardwood floors the prefinished types typically have tongue and groove edges on all sides. Make a line of glue the length. Spread flooring adhesive on the particleboard with your flooring trowel. Start with a small area so you can reach across wet glue without stepping or kneeling in it.

Solid wood floors should not be installed in basements or below grade. Use a thick piece of plywood to help shore up your particle board subfloor at least 3 4 inch thick.