Subfloor problems. Help!
Hey guys,
I'm renovating a home I just purchased. It was built in the 50s and still has beautiful white oak hardwood throughout most of it, which sits on a crawl space foundation. There was an add on built to the house on a slab in the 70s, and it connects as seen in the first pic below. I would like to get rid of the pocket doors (see pic 2) and continue the hardwood into the add on-- I'd of course leave the header in place and reinforce it on the sides.
My problem is that the concrete is already on the same level as the hardwood. From all my research it seems that the standard plywood subfloor, which will need to be nailed into the concrete over 6 mil poly, is supposed to be 3/4" thick. On top of that, paper, and then 1/2" by 2" unfinished white oak. (This will be finished to match the recently refinished original hardwood-- I have the info of the finish used). So the total thickness of the flooring over the slab would be 3/4" + 1/2" = 1.25" higher than the original hardwood over the crawl space.
Seems like that would be a very high transition with one huge saddle over it. I also heard that a 1" transition is the maximum, dunno if this is true. Someone suggested using 1/2" subfloor, which would still make a 1" transition. In that case I'd need to find a flooring nailer, or stapler that would take nails/staples shorter than the standard 1.5" ones used for this process. Yes, the other option is to install some kind of laminate flooring over the slab, and have two very separate and defined spaces... but I'd rather not resort to that just yet.
The OTHER issue is when I started tearing out the tile and thinset off the slab I discovered residual backing from linoleum. The linoleum itself is gone,but the bottom part of it was still glued to the concrete (see pics below). In my process of removing thinset I accidentally carved out small strips of that stuff (reasons for not stripping all of it off were 1. I heard old linoleum was placed down with asbestos-- though I'm pretty sure this one is only 15 to 20 years old, 2. It's a damn tiring job!, and 3. I need to return the tool rental to home depot). So my question is, can I lay down a subfloor right over those variations, seeing as they are at most less than 1/16th" deep? Or should I patch them up with a compound? OR do I need to tear out all of it-- God, I hope not.
I appreciate any suggestions-- and as a note, no, I have never laid down floors before, but yes, I am very handy, a perfectionist and am damn good at following instructions. Fun times ahead :thumbsup:.
Thanks,
Mike
Hey guys,
I'm renovating a home I just purchased. It was built in the 50s and still has beautiful white oak hardwood throughout most of it, which sits on a crawl space foundation. There was an add on built to the house on a slab in the 70s, and it connects as seen in the first pic below. I would like to get rid of the pocket doors (see pic 2) and continue the hardwood into the add on-- I'd of course leave the header in place and reinforce it on the sides.
My problem is that the concrete is already on the same level as the hardwood. From all my research it seems that the standard plywood subfloor, which will need to be nailed into the concrete over 6 mil poly, is supposed to be 3/4" thick. On top of that, paper, and then 1/2" by 2" unfinished white oak. (This will be finished to match the recently refinished original hardwood-- I have the info of the finish used). So the total thickness of the flooring over the slab would be 3/4" + 1/2" = 1.25" higher than the original hardwood over the crawl space.
Seems like that would be a very high transition with one huge saddle over it. I also heard that a 1" transition is the maximum, dunno if this is true. Someone suggested using 1/2" subfloor, which would still make a 1" transition. In that case I'd need to find a flooring nailer, or stapler that would take nails/staples shorter than the standard 1.5" ones used for this process. Yes, the other option is to install some kind of laminate flooring over the slab, and have two very separate and defined spaces... but I'd rather not resort to that just yet.
The OTHER issue is when I started tearing out the tile and thinset off the slab I discovered residual backing from linoleum. The linoleum itself is gone,but the bottom part of it was still glued to the concrete (see pics below). In my process of removing thinset I accidentally carved out small strips of that stuff (reasons for not stripping all of it off were 1. I heard old linoleum was placed down with asbestos-- though I'm pretty sure this one is only 15 to 20 years old, 2. It's a damn tiring job!, and 3. I need to return the tool rental to home depot). So my question is, can I lay down a subfloor right over those variations, seeing as they are at most less than 1/16th" deep? Or should I patch them up with a compound? OR do I need to tear out all of it-- God, I hope not.
I appreciate any suggestions-- and as a note, no, I have never laid down floors before, but yes, I am very handy, a perfectionist and am damn good at following instructions. Fun times ahead :thumbsup:.
Thanks,
Mike