We have 5 bedrooms on the second floor with 5/8″ T&G plywood subflooring over 16″ on center floor trusses. The subflooring is good and solid. The hallway has 3/4″ solid red oak flooring. I had planed on installing the hardwood in the bedrooms also, but because I work too slowly, we have decided to just have carpet installed in the bedrooms.
My question – Should I install another layer of plywood before carpeting? If so, how thick to match carpet with hardwood in hall?
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Replies
what finish floor is in the bedroom now? Usually the underlay and carpet will be equal to your hardwood floor in the hallway. Just test it with a small cut-off from the carpet. Don't forget to check for any squeaks before installing the carpet. :=)
No finish floor now - this is new construction (dragged out over several years). I was just thinking that you should always have two layers of wood. If I'm wrong that simplifies the job."Squeaky Floors," yes I'm at my witts end in one spot. The subfloor was put down with floor adhesive and plenty of ring shank nails. For the most part it is soundless, but near the pocket doors to the closet in the master BR it squeaks. I have added several screws, and it still squeaks. I don't know of anything else I can do.John
somewhere the floor is rubbing against something. Locate the joists and re-screw the floor. Is the floor rubbing against a stud, plate, pipe. Renail all the ringnails, if all fails, pull all the nails in that problem area. Nothing worse than having a squeaky floor. Now is the time to rectify the problem.
Yes, I know the problem with gluing the floor. In the instructions on the tube it says the materials have to be free from dust, grease etc. Not on a construction site. We totally avoid gluing but we screw 4" at the edges and 6-8" in the middle. If a screw does not hit the joist you will see right away because the head will just spin and not sink in. In 35 years we never had a problem with squeaky floors.
The joists are easy to find. I used open web trusses, so I have a 3-1/2 in surface to nail/screw to. I think the squeak was originally coming from the metal track for the pocket doors. I managed to get a couple more screws into the track (after sheetrock), and several more just through the subfloor and truss. I am afraid to put any more screws in. The 2 x 4 in the top cord of the truss can only handle so many screws and nails without splintering.I might try backing the screws that I can access out of the pocket door track and see if I can get some 30# felt between the track and the subfloor, but I think with all my hammering in that area I may have moved the original squeak to the top of the truss.John
I like open web trusses. Could there by something hung onto them (joisthanger, a pipe rubbing)? We now embed all material which is in joisthangers in construction glue. A lesson learned about when installing the Silent Floor.
There are pipes - 3/4" copper and 3" PVC - that go through the joists in this area but we are only 2 ft. off the outside wall where the squeak is. There should not be any deflection of the joists at that point. These are 16" floor trusses 16" on center with 5/8" sheetrock on the bottom and 5/8 " plywood on top. I had intended to use 3/4" plywood but grabbed from the wrong pile at the "big box." I had one piece down and two son-in-laws standing by to help when I realized my mistake. Should have stopped and exchanged the wood, but I didn't want to let my son-in-laws know I made a mistake, and my free help might have got away. It might have made a difference - 20 20 hindsight.
OHHHHH! A single layer of 5/8 plywood is a light subfloor.
Tough call. I fyou lay another layer of anything on top of the subfloor your carpet to hardwood (hallway) could get messy.
One more thought. If I carpet the other bedrooms and Hardwood this master BR perpendicular to the trusses will this stiffen the floor enough to make it worth the time and effort? The squeak is at the edge of the door opening, or under the metal pocket door bracket. I will not be able to try the felt paper until tomorrow, but I don't think I will be able to work any in. The sheet rock is finished and will probably hold the pocket door bracket down.John
Did removal of the track solve the problem?
If not you have two choices: Live with the squeak or take the floor up in this particular area. It could be the piping. It does not take too much to deflect the joists just a teeny little to cause the squeak, especially with a skinny subfloor sheathing
Omahney, two layers of wood? You sound like me, old school. They ussed to build with 3/4 inch ply and then 5/8 particle board on top. Made for a cleaner finished product. More solid? Yes, but nothing people seem to notice.
You will be fine putting the carpet over what you have. Finished height depends on how thick the carpet is. A thick plush carpet should plane out nicely with the oak hallway.
Bill
Don't put anything down. Carpet right on top of subfloor.
When the day comes that you actually find the time to install the hardwood that you actually want, you'll be thankful.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Count me amongst those who aren't big fans of the single layer of ply method under rugs. My preferred method ( how I was taught ); subfloor, ( be it 5/8 cdx, advantech, whatever), layer of at least 1/2 inch particle board, then rug. I'm sure there are those who will make the argument that it's overkill, but old habits die hard. It is absolutely a more solid floor tho, in my opinion. Also puts carpet level closer to hardwood floor level.
my .02
Bing