Laminated flooring with attached padding on back.?
I'm installing over plywood sub-floor. Floor is somewhat rough, with knot holes, and dried glue residue (from old carpet I pulled up). What kind of prep does the sub-floor require before I can lay the laminate?
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March 5th, 2010 at 4:59 am
Scrape up the glue you want a smooth finish for laminate. Putty areas and use a prime paint. Go eye level with a light. make sure there are no divots or bumps.
Or put 1/4" luan over the floor..You will still need to scrape up the high spots. Vacuum really well too.
Laminate is VERY unforgiving. The padding isn’t going to save you. Prep is a pain but you will be very very thankful you did spend the time.
http://www.builddirect.com/laminate-flooring/laminate-floors-faq_6951.aspx
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/laminatefloorlaying
March 5th, 2010 at 4:59 am
I think you are fine, go around with scraper and knock down all the high spots. I would put some paper down first. You can also get some cushy under lament. They sell stuff that is 2 pieces of plastic with styrofoam balls between the sheets, it makes the wood softer to walk on and quieter but is rather expensive. The foam pad under it serves this purpose as well.
If you were installing vinyl floor then you would need to make sure its very flat but tongue floating laminate about the easiest floor to put down.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:59 am
All you need to do it use a scraper or putty knife to remove the glue. It is not necessary to totally remove every trace of it, just knock it down flat. Rub your hand across it. If it feels flat it’s fine. As far as knot holes, if they are smaller then a quarter, nothing needs to be done. The flooring does not give that much that it would be or become an issue. If they are larger, just use wood filler to fill the hole flush with the plywood. You need not do anything else, except sweep the floor clean. The foam padding described by others is installed as a vapor barrier. The padding on the back of your laminate is a vapor barrier, and no additional is required nor is it recommended. The foam vapor barrier is used when there is no padding/vapor barrier on the laminate. You need not paint or prime it either. When you lay the laminate be careful not to damage the tongue and groove locking system when you tap it together. At the locations where the laminate ends against different flooring you need to install transition strips. If you already have them, open up the package and remove the metal "U" shaped track and mount it in place before you lay the laminate (so you don’t have to fight it in later. Lastly, whatever brand of laminate you purchase, they have matching quarter round trim. I suggest not using it. It is extremely overpriced. It’s paper glued onto MDF (what most people call press board). In a nut shell it’s garbage. i always by unfinished oak and match the stain color. This will save you about $40 per room. It looks better and last much longer. I have installed approx 50-60 of these floors. You don’t have to some of unnecessary things suggested.