Sub floor Level for hardwood floor

tonydiato

My house is pretty new, built in 2004. I ripped out the carpeting in the dining room and there is OSB board underlayment. I put a long level and the bubble are in the middle or close too. The problem is when the 3 1/4 in hardwood boards go over the seams of the sub floor, its uneven. I do not know how i would level this since the levelers bubble is in the middle. With the leveler flat on one board going over a seam, it rises up about 1/4 when it reaches the baseboards. BUT, if the leveler is on the board without hitting a seam, its perfectly level. How would i fix this matter? Put some 1/4 inch strips of board around the edges by the baseboards for support?

I know I am nailing this floor down, so if there is a slight bow, is there something to worry about?

Your suggestions appreciated.

joecaption

Are you 100% sure this is partical board and not OSB?
The reason I ask is real hard wood should not be installed over partical board.
Still trying to make heads or tail out of your description.
With any flooring except carpet the floor has to be be flat not so much level.

tonydiato

The board looks like this.

what do you suggest I do around the edges, by the baseboards to make it flat?

joecaption

My mistake in reading your post I guess.
Sure your not just setting it on a nail that's sitting to high?
Is this the subfloor or is there an underlayment layer also?

Have you rapped the nail heads a few time to see if that brings it down?

Do not forget to lay a layer of roson paper down before laying the floor.

JazMan

Hi Tony,

That's OSB alright, very common as a subfloor. Sounds to me that your seams are peaked from expansion. Pay more attention to how flat the floor is than the bubble. I bet when the bubbles indicate level, your straight edge is not touching the floor in spots. How long is the level?

You may have to counter sink the fasteners and use a belt sander. You may have too much humidity or the panels were not installed correctly.

Jaz

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tonydiato

Hope depot suggested a cushin type barrier that they sell for 44.00 for a 100 foot roll.

The floor looks solid, ill try to hit the nail heads and see if it brings it down. Should i try a floor leveler, or just sand it down, or should i put wood over the subfloor to level it out (flatten)?

JazMan

There's a lota truth in that!

Jaz

__________________
Tile 4 You LLC Troy, MI
KERDI Shower Specialist ... DITRA Installs ... Product-Method suitability consultation. I have NEVER made a mistake, I thought I did once...........but I was wrong! - PRODUCTS ADVERTISED WITHIN MY POST ARE NOT ENDORSED BY ME!

tonydiato

Each 4x8 sheet of the usb is flat when i put a 4 foot straight edge on it. The only time it jumps up as much as a inch is when it goes across certain seams in the boards. Do i sand down the seams? The bubble level is center. It can not be 1 inch off.

Since the floor is nailed down, won't it just conform to the wood floor? Thanks.

DannyT

before i did hardwood on my floors i sanded all the joints in the osb and removed all the screws that were not screwed into the joists and were sticking upand sunk all the nails that were sticking up.

tonydiato

when you put a level over a seam from one board to another board, how much did the level/straight edge wobble?