lam prep question

sergeantstew · 10-02-2005, 09:50 PM

I'm planning a laminate floor installation in a large dining room. Flooring company says use 3/8" luan panels over original 3/4" t&g plywood subfloor, to assure a level and solid platform for lam. Should luan be glued to subfl. or screwed down. Should lam. be attached solidly to luan or simply floated? New to lam floor, thus the questions. Any special precautions? Heard on fellow say that gluing luan will cause it to de-lam.
Any facts on this?
Thanks....sgtstew

'Andyman · 10-03-2005, 11:31 AM

Seargentstew,

I'm surprised at the advice you got from a flooring stoor.
First of all, your 3/4" T & G is adequate. Just make sure that there are no nails popping and secure it to the joists with extra screws. You dont want squeaks, especially after you lay the laminate. All that is required on top of the subfloor is a thin foam that comes in rolls and this deadens the sound that you would normally get from a wood floor. Dont fix the laminate, let it float and leave a 3/8" gap between the laminate and the walls for expansion or you could get buckling. Your trim or quarter round will cover this.

Floorwizard · 10-03-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Andyman

Seargentstew,

I'm surprised at the advice you got from a flooring stoor.
First of all, your 3/4" T & G is adequate. Just make sure that there are no nails popping and secure it to the joists with extra screws. You dont want squeaks, especially after you lay the laminate. All that is required on top of the subfloor is a thin foam that comes in rolls and this deadens the sound that you would normally get from a wood floor. Dont fix the laminate, let it float and leave a 3/8" gap between the laminate and the walls for expansion or you could get buckling. Your trim or quarter round will cover this.

that's right.

if your subfloor is not level, I don't see how the underlayment would be after it's installed...

jeeesh!