lauan as underlayment?

Mr. Michael

I've searched, and didn't find an answer that pertains close enough to my situation, so I am going to post my question.
I'm going to be laying some floating click lock bamboo flooring in my kitchen and living room. The floor will not be even once I remove my carpet in the living room, there will be about .25" deviation. My question is can I use quarter inch lauan as my underlayment under the bamboo?
The subfloor is 19/32" OSB with 16" joists. Going to be laying the floor perpindicular to the joists.
I am leaning toward lauan because of the price, but have been reading some negative things about it. Most of the bad press is regarding the use of adhesives on top of it though. Since my floor is floating, I was wondering if anyone can weigh in on this, or is there a better choice?
Thanks
Michael

joecaption

Will it work, yes but Far better to just use 1/4 underlayment rated plywood so at a later date if someone want to change the floors to something else it it could stay.

rusty baker

And luan may have voids in the plys that can collapse.

__________________
"I'm twisted, not sick. Sick implies, I'll get better"
Semi-Retired Installer
Installing since 1973

JetSwet

Your not going to get luon in 1/4" anyway.

Mr. Michael

Why do you say that Jetswet? Claims to be .25", unless you're referring to actual thickness, vs nominal?
Anyway, I've decided on a 5 ply ACX or BCX product. The difference in price isn't significant enough to risk my flooring project in the long run.
Thanks all.

JetSwet

It's like 1/8 or 3/16. Almost 1/4" but not.

Mr. Michael

as long as we're talking nominal thickness, does anyone know if there's a product that's actually 9/32" insted of 1/4"? I've still got a VERY thin layer of vinyl in the kitchen that I'd rather not take off if I can help it. And, would an extra 1/32" deviation be noticeable in the finished flooring?

JetSwet

You have sheet vinyl now? Why not just leave it and go over it?.... But take in fact that your floating floor plus vapor barrier will take up hight so you might not need to replace the luon to Mach up to carpet.

Mr. Michael

I've taken off one thicker layer of vinyl flooring, and the 1/4" underlayment in the kitchen already. Below, is another much thinner layer of vinyl and 1/4" underlayment. I'm going to go over this. Where it meets the living room is where I'm removing carpet, placing new 1/4" plywood to match the kitchen height and laying my bamboo over the whole floor. So the only height difference is in this VERY thin layer of older vinyl, maybe 1/32" or thinner. This, plus the glue they used, adds up to about 1mm. Does anyone think that height variation will affect my final floor? Or will it get absorbed by my underlayment?

joecaption

It's not going to be an issue witha floating floor.

pgc555

I agree that is is NOT really an issue. If you have any concerns - roll out 30# roofing felt. It is widely used with nail down strip oak and would have no negative under a "floating" bamboo.

__________________
Phil,

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

JetSwet

It's isn't a issue with using luon but I can tell you if you use roofing paper for a VB there will be issue...a big one. Roofing paper does not belong under laminate of any kind.

pgc555

Hey Jet,
Where did you hear that? Click-lock Bamboo is not laminate. He's installing over OSB - I'm not saying the 30# felt is a vapor barrier - it's a shim, in this case.Michael, is there a foam backer ON the bamboo already?

__________________
Phil,

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

JetSwet

Just because its bamboo doesn't mean it's laminate as well. Floating & interlocking = laminate in my book. Anyway doesn't belong under or on top of the VB.