Install Hardwood Floor Over Osb Subfloor

The national wood flooring association advises that osb sub flooring panels be glued and fastened.

Install hardwood floor over osb subfloor.

A contractor said do not install hardwood flooring over osb. When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. On wood subfloors it is the difference in moisture between the subfloor and the hardwood for engineered hardwood flooring check the manufacturer s requirements since they may vary based on hardwood species other material components strip width and thickness other considerations although it is critical to take moisture into account when installing hardwood flooring over osb it is also important to keep in mind other installation best practices. Install 23 32 inch or thicker osb panels in the proper orientation that is with the side marked this side down facing down.

Moisture contents of osb subflooring must be established prior to hardwood flooring installations. Instead he recommended laminate wood floor over osb. Ensure that no fasteners are exposed or raised and that there is at least an 1 8 inch gap between osb subfloor panels. In about 2 or 3 years the hardwood flooring will pull loose.

Florstar s mike ricker shows why many installations of engineered wood flooring over an osb sub floor can lead to a squeek in the floor. Although it is critical to take moisture into account when installing hardwood flooring over osb it is also important to keep in mind other installation best practices. Nails will not hold onto the osb through the hardwood floor and will come loose in a couple of years causing uneveness which is a very dangerous situation to try to walk over. Floating engineered wood floors can simply be installed directly on osb subfloor the hardwood flooring must be installed crossing the floor joists at a 90 degree angle.

Tap tongue and groove sheets together with a hammer but leave a. These include ensuring that the floor is level free of debris and that the subfloor panels are properly attached to the underlying joists. Always leave the required 1 8 inch gap between 4 ends of sub flooring panels to allow for expansion with changes in moisture conditions. Hardwood flooring will not stabilize the osb subfloor so all movement must be remedied prior to hardwood installation.