Hi all,
I'm wanting to install 3/4" oak over a 1" particle board sub-floor with 16" joist spacing. The particle board is in good shape and nailed down. Not sure if it's also glued. The room is an addition over a crawl space with a vapor barrier on the dirt and no signs of water intrusion into the crawl space. I'm trying to match the remainder of the home with this new flooring. I fear nails /staples won't hold in the particle board. Can I float this floor by gluing the T&G joints? If not, what glue is best to use and easiest for a DYI'er to work with? I've installed un-finished oak b-4 but it was a nail down install.
Robbie
Atlanta, GA

You need Bostiks Best..Bostiks Ultra step or Sika for your bullet proof vest.

Bona's 851 adhesive is very easy to work with.

a solid will require a 1/2" square notch trowel..plan on getting roughly 150 sf to a apil if you're lucky

We should have some sort of disclaimer with James' 3/4 inch solid glue down suggestions It can work with short pieces, but longer, very doubtful for good results. I also think those adhesives would probably eat that particle board up, opposed to an OSB or stronger flake board. 1/2 inch?

It would probably be less expensive to rip up the particle board and replace it wit plywood than to buy the adhesive.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
I can't easily pull up the particle board as it runs under walls and if I layer over it with ply I'll have big transitions to deal with. I already own the 3/4" wood so I hate to buy something else. Which glue will best adhere to the particle board?
Robbie

If it's real particle board, the answer is none. Don't try it.

Ken

we are in disagreement here. Where do you dget info stating urethane adhesive wont stick toparticle board? its a surface and glue sticks to it.

Bostiks Best or ultra step, sika are good top use for solid flooring.

The advantage now being the particle board will actually now become a solid and rigid structural floor as they will become one floor reinforcing eachother.

Just make sure you glue perpendicular to joists.

Nails no in particle board. Glue will work..glue has a funny way of sticking to stuff and particle board is stuff.
Gravity will play a role too unless we expect polar magnetic field shifts and floors grow wings and start flying away.

Never mentioned not sticking. I guess it's one of my "why take chances" type red flag moments partly because I have a lot of experience and understanding of glue down floors. In my opinion particle board (PB) is safe for floating floors only. I do see Bostiks gives it the green light here...

"Bostik's BEST may be used over all properly prepared substrates
common to hardwood flooring installations including: concrete, plywood,
particle or chip board (underlayment grade), well bonded vinyl/VCT
and ceramic tile, cement backer board, gypsum underlayments (dry,
above-grade), cement patch/underlayments, radiant-heat flooring, and
properly prepared terrazzo."

But who believes particle board is a common substrate for hardwood flooring?

Play it safe, rip out the old stuff. Look into a toe kick saw that can take care of cutting those areas where the PB runs under the walls.