Can You Install Hardwood Floors Over Particle Board

There are several issues with this subfloor.

Can you install 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. 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. Can t use a nail gun but you can install hardwood floor.

Found out your subfloor is particle board. Hardwood flooring that is fastened by any method whether it be mechanical fasteners or glue should not go over particle board. Particle board can absorb excessive moisture is very brittle and does not hold nails very well.

One main reason is that the resins waxes and glues used in the bonding process permeate the entire panel. When thinking about installing wood flooring in a situation where the only subfloor is particle board you really only have one option. Although adhesive companies state it can work use caution against gluing down any hardwood engineered or solids over particle masonite wafer or osb board.

If this type of underlayment is present it will have to be removed when planning to install a nail or glue down hardwood floor. A floating install is the only way to go over it and i don t know of any 3 4 solid on the market that you can float. The floors are creaky and warped in places and i ve been strongly advised not to install hardwood floors over particle board as they cannot hold nails and will deteriorate if water is spilled.

But the additional height of both the particle board and the new flooring may pose a problem with doors and appliances. Stop when you have about 5 feet of flooring remaining to be laid or when you don t. When to add plywood if you re stapling laminate flooring around the edges of the room you should be.

This makes installing other flooring such as hardwood difficult over a particleboard floor. I purchased hardwood floors pre finished 3 4. 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.