Best Practice to Prep for Strip Flooring
Hello,
I am planning to install 2-1/4″ x 3/4″ hardwood flooring in a 100 year old house. The floor has 7/8″ T&G subfloor on which I placed an addition 3/8″ plywood on top for stability and leveling. Despite all best efforts, there are still noticeable bumps and voids in the flooring. I am wondering what the best practices are to prep before strip installation: shimming the voids and sanding the humps, floor leveling compound, or something else I haven’t heard of.
Also, would a site sanded and finished type flooring help to smooth out the instillation or would prefinished flooring be acceptable. Is there any advantage to using wider boards 3or4″?
I am looking to have the best overall final appearance, not necessarily tied to any particular style or wood type.
Thanks,
Matt
Replies
Sounds like you're already on the right track with levelling, etc.
The bottom line is that you must get to a flat (not necessarily level) floor for the best result in either site-finished or pre-finished hardwood floor installation.
Sanding and finishing on site will only remedy the smallest of imperfections, so don't depend on that to smooth out any big bumps. Certainly take care of the voids or forever put up with creaks.
The best pratice is likely to level the floor from the joists up. If you are redoing the main floor then the best thing to do would be to level it from the basement. Once all the joists and beams are back level install the plywood and work from a level surface.
If you can't fix the beams and joists from below then I'd think the next best thing would be to use a laser level and rip 2x and attach to the top of the joists that are low and make them all level then install the plywood on top for a completely level floor, planeing any that are too high. Why mess around with creating a true floor when you can in likely the same amount of time create a level floor and not have to mess around with the finishing as much.
I don't see if you have said how much these humps and sags are. It makes a great difference whether you are looking at 1/8" in two feet or 1/2" in four feet or.....
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I think you may have put the cart before the horse. Should have done the grunt work before you set your plywood down. A commercial sander or edger for your highs and some self leveler for you lows depending of course on how severe your problems are as stated in the previous post. In an extreme case you may want to do as the first poster says regarding leveling. That is a very big job. You can still have a nice looking floor which ever route you go. Strip floor is a little forgiving. Just remember you aren't building a piano. :-)
good luck whatever you do
gary...