Hi all! First post. This is a great site.

I got a great deal on 3/8 x 3 inch engineered flooring. I was told by the supplier and in the info sheet with the flooring that it can be glued over particle board. After pondeing it and then finding this site I have decided not to do that and to replace the particle board.

My sub floor is 1/2 plywood with 5/8 particle board. I still want to glue it since I have the glue its the Solva-Mastic 930. After I pull up the particle board will replacing that with 1/2 plywood give me the correct thickness to glue the floor down, it will give me 1 inch of plywood subfloor/underlayment.

Anyone wana come over and help pull up particle board? Ill buy the beer and BBQ! lol

Thanks!

I have a strong bias against putting anything over particle board, but it is just that, a bias. Particle board has some pretty cool attributes and, in the absence of moisture, it is a pretty stable underlayment.

930 is a good choice. It contains no water and is very installer friendly.

I would highly recommend screwing down any particle board before gluing over it.

We just ripped out 600 sf of particleboard with the help willing relatives and a strong teenager. Had lots of food & drinks on hand. The women pulled nails out of the subfloor, hauled out the pieces to the trailer, and, of course "directed". Was a fun day and a half! You'll be elated when it's done.

I Pulled up 620 Sq ft of particle board and laid half inch plywood down this weekend by my lonesome! Man Iam a little sore! The PB was just stapled down. I laid the PW down with Liquid Nails Subfloor and 2.5 inch screws into the joist then 1.25 inch screws around the edges. It took all the squeeks out and seems pretty ridgid.

When I get done with this room I still have the living room to do. Its about 610 Sq ft.

I am relaying CDX over the subfloor after ripping out the PB.
Room is 12 x 17. The PB was layed parrellel to the subfloor. I imagine I would want to lay the new underlayment across (perpendicular) to the subfloor to not have seam over seam? Also, a 1/8 inch gap between the 1/2" ply boards for expansion?

thanks bruce

I dont think plywood expands very much. But yes you should lay it in the opposite direction then the subfloor. I used some premixed cement based thin set to fill in any major gaps in the seams.