I just pulled up carpeting and glue-down parquet in a 600sq ft area. The current flooring is 3/4 plywood over crawlspace. I will be installing 3/4 4-inch red oak. The glue from the previous flooring has left small ridges. Which is best/easiest - laying new 1/2 inch plywood screwed to subfloor/joists or renting a sanding machine and smoothing over the surface (or nothing if its not a big prob). THe floor itself is quite level.

Oh, and do you all pull up all those god-awful staples from the carpet padding, or just hammer-em fown?

THanks!

--Brian

I've done both, sanded off glue and laid new underlayment over it. I wouldn't consider either easier. The glue clogged my sander and I spent hours cleaning. The underlayment cost money and took as long. I think if you have more time than money, dollar for dollar, renting a sander and sanding the subfloors will be less money. And it could take less time. But every job is different and subfloor prep is never easy. And those pesky pad staples, just pound them down and sand them off.

Thanks for the reply!

--Brian

We use a stand up steel scrapper for the staples , you can knock out a 15 x 20 room in about 10 to 15 minutes , then just sweep them up .. Like Gary says though , every floor is different , if you have to hammer down the staples make sure to pull the pad nubs out first ..