Hello,
Haven't seen this question come up, so decided to post. I am removing 3/4" hardwood and replacing with 1/2" engineered. Under my existing 3/4" is vinyl and luan. Everything is now removed and prior to going back up with the subfloor, what is the general opinion about the luan staples?? Best to remove or hammer down. There is a million of them!! I am planning to install a 1/2" CDX to bring floor back up and will screw in. But don't want to do that until I feel comfortable about the staples.

Thank You
Kenstub

I pull out what I can and the rest get hammered down flat. A 5in1 painters tool works well to pop out staples.

Pulling them out is best but not always reasonable. Pounding them down FLUSH with the surface of the subfloor is acceptable, especially since you are installing more underlayment over the subfloor.

Thanks for the info! I feel more comfortable now. I'll pull the staples along the cabinets where I cant hammer flush. Rest are hammered flush. I am adding 1/2" CDX and plan on screwing. Someone told me I had to use liquid nails. Isn't screwing fine? I imagine if I use liquid nails, I'll never be able to get the 1/2" up. Probably wont need to take it up again but you never know. Termites got into my old floors in the foyer, and were so old I couldn't match so I ripped them all out. Didn't really like them anyhow because they had this little grove between boards that were impossible to clean!

Thanks again

kenstub