Hi there. I’ve been reading through this board for a few weeks, picking up lots of great information on my way to a DIY install of 3-1/4” solid oak in my home. I’ll be installing about 900 sq ft on one floor. I had some 2-1/4” #1 common red oak in my foyer, and I didn’t want to try to match it, so I tore it out. Header boards along the carpet were glued. The first one I removed took some chunks of OSB with it. The deepest divots are about 1/8”.

I will be installing the new flooring in parallel with this damaged area, so I think I need to repair it somehow. I’ve been reading about leveling compounds, and they don’t seem suitable for nailing. Is there anything I can do with this spot besides cutting it out and laying in a piece of plywood?

I tried to include a photo, but I get an error “ It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image.” I tried from iCloud, OneDrive and Imgbox.


Chris Myers

Solid oak flooring will bridge small divots. Check your floor for flatness with a six or 10 foot straight-edge and sand any high spots. You can use tar paper to build up low areas and glue it with latex adhesive.
Some glues will be OK with up to a 3/8th inch imperfection in the sub-floor. Check for good contact. A few top nails in the groove or into the tongue to hold the glued piece where you want it works.
Titebond latex sub-floor adhesive in the large tubes is what I use.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Ir5Z_DgsE9OsOKOtOlX81SuQ

This is a link to my photo.

Thanks for the input, Pete. Just to clarify, assuming the photo link works, I want to nail down the new floor, which will run parallel to the red line. Would you recommend that I fill the divots with glued tar paper and also use glue for the boards running across this spot?

I have a couple other glued-damaged areas from header board transitions to other rooms, but the new flooring will run perpendicular to them. They also aren't as bad because I undercut the glue with a multitool before paying the boards up.

Can you find the latex sub-floor adhesive? It is sold at White Cap construction supply.
It looks like you will not need tar paper as the sub-floor adhesive works with small gaps, up to 3/8ths inch. It looks like the boards will rest on smooth areas since you are installing a wider board than the strip flooring. It looks like all the old glue came up with the old flooring so you will not need to sand any residue.

I will look for that adhesive. Thanks!