Q: I have 60 yr. old wood floors that are totally shot. What is the best way to cover the existing floor (since I do not have sub flooring/ no subfloor under wood floor) with a new wood floor?
A: It sounds like the floor you are walking on may be a softwood that has been sanded a few times and which actually was the original sub floor. I have seen a few times where oak was installed directly on the joists too. You could secure the boards to eliminate movement and then install plywood over top, screwed into the joists, or elect to strip everything off and then screw down the 3/4 ply. Remember, the final finished floor will only be as solid as what it sits on, so make sure the new sub floor is secured well.
Related Questions
Leveling a slanted wood floorMy living room is about 12' x 13' with a slanting wood floor that varies over an inch from one side of the room to the next. Is there anyway of levelling this without destroying my downstairs neighbours ceiling and without spending gobs of money? I am also interested in…
No sub floor?My father-in-law is installing hardwood floors in his condo. There is currently no sub floor underneath the carpet. Do you recommend installing a sub floor on top of the concrete or can the hardwood be installed with no sub floor?
Saving old wood floor covered with tileQ: We have a 100 year old house. The entrance way has wood floor, with very old tile on top. We want to save the wood floor. What can be done? A: A number of issues arise here. How do you know the floor is thick enough to be sanded?…
Oak wood floor is liftingI have recently laid a oak floor in my living room and dining room. The floor has started to lift. Is this common and does it settle down after a while?