Request for Winston-Salem area members

[ACobra289]

Hello all. Sometime within the next month or two or three I will be installing some hardwood floors in my house. I am going to need a moisture meter to check the wood and the underlayment to make sure they are within specs. If possible I would like to borrow a meter from a fellow member. If you have one and would be willing to let me use it, please let me know. I don't need it anytime soon, but I wanted to go ahead and mention it.

Thanks,
Bill M.

 

[NCPete]

If your house is currently conditioned, moisture for your underlayment should be fine. As for the flooring products... they should also be fine, just make sure to have them delivered about 3 to 5 days before the work starts, and have them stored inside where the work will be done.

how many feet are you doing/having done?

 

[ACobra289]

I am having to pull up the particle board underlayment and replace with 1/2" ply. The flooring is already in the house, so by the time I'm ready to install, it should have had plenty of time to acclimate. I guess I just want to be sure since I spent so much on the flooring.

The total will be around 650 sq ft.

Thanks.

 

[NCPete]

why not 3/4 ply??? how will you be attaching the new floor to the sub??? I fear that 1/2 will feel rather wimpy and flex more than really comfortable under foot - causing future undesirable squeaking.

 

[Jon]

Why are you taking up the flooring?

 

[ebarr]

I have to agree with NCPete.

I would go with the 3/4". 1/2" I wouldn't think would hold up.

 

[NCPete]

there is even an option for 7/8" ply for subfloor now. I have walked on it and it felt SOLID. fewer squeaks, too. If I ever build a 'dream' house, that's what it will have underneath a maple floor. don't want any callbacks in my own house

 

[JimmyC]

Traditionally I've found subflooring to be 5/8", When laying out the new floor, it should go across the beams, so if you mark the beams on your subfloor you will know where to put you flooring nails/staples. This way the flooring is nailed to the beams as opposed to the plywood subfloor.

Just something to think about.

Jimmy

 

[ACobra289]

The subfloor is plywood. (I believe it's 1/2", possibly more".) On top of that was the particle board underlayment. I was advised by several professional floor installers to remove the particle board as this was not an acceptable underlayment for nailed down wood planks. So with the 1/2" ply I am installing over the subfloor, this will provide approximately 1" of subfloor/underlayment. I believe the minimum recommended is 3/4" So I am a little above that. I am screwing everything, so it should be fairly solid.

Thanks,
Bill M.

 

[JimmyC]

I think you're all set, just make sure all the flooring has dryed and install.

Good luck.

Jimmy

 

[NZAPP1]

Like Mike I also have a meeter and your are more then welcome to use it

 

[ACobra289]

Thanks guys. I'll get back in touch when I get ready for the install.

Bill M.