QA

How To Level Particle Board Subfloor

Pour the liquid-like floor leveler onto the subfloor and smooth it out with a trowel. Gravity will help it settle into the low areas. Remove any excess floor leveler and feather it around the edges so it blends with the rest of the floor. Let the floor leveler dry overnight or as indicated by the manufacturer.

How do you level particle board?

Use a sander if the Particle board is slightly thicker than the new subfloor to level it out. If it is thinner, you will need to use some sort of floor leveling compound.

Can you use leveling compound on particle board?

if a lot of movement is expected then a more flexible compound should be used. by “floor leveller” I presume you mean a self leveling compound. no water based compound should be applied directly to “chipboard” as any consequential swelling causes a break down of the compound bond.

Can particle board be used for subfloor?

Particleboard, which kind of looks like oatmeal, is comprised of small wood particles that are glued and formed into sheets. These boards, which are typically manufactured in 4″ x 8″ sheets, are not suitable as a subfloor. Structurally, they lack the strength and height needed for a hardwood flooring installation.

Can you put floor leveler on OSB?

LevelQuik® Advance™ SLU is a high flow, high strength, fiber reinforced calcium aluminate cement based, self-leveling underlayment that eliminates the need for reinforcing lath over plywood and OSB on interior wood framed subfloors.

Why is there particle board on top of my subfloor?

When particle board is used on top of sub-flooring as an underlayment, it provides a thick, solid base that is useful under carpeting, linoleum, or vinyl flooring. One last pro of particle board is that it can also raise the level of the floor to the correct height for transitions between flooring materials.

Can you put laminate over particle board?

You can put laminate over particle board, but it is strongly advised to avoid this if possible. Particle board is very susceptible to moisture which can cause it to swell and deform. It’s also not a suitable subfloor when it comes to stability as it is not structurally supprotive.

Can you put self-leveling compound on floorboards?

Self-levelling concrete is a polymer-modified cement that has high flow characteristics, it’s used in the preparation of laying most floor coverings to create a smooth and level surface. Levelling compound can be used on a variety of substrates including concrete, screed, existing tiles and timber floors.

Can you put self-leveling compound over linoleum?

If you can avoid it, you should probably not use a leveling compound on a vinyl floor. Leveling mixes are designed to make smooth surfaces and are most often used on concrete or wood. It can be confusing because many leveling compounds are marked as useable on a variety of surfaces, including linoleum and vinyl.

Can you use self-leveling compound on plywood?

If you’ve got a plywood subfloor, like many buildings do, you can leave it in place and apply self-leveling concrete directly on top of it. You can also use self-leveling concrete on plywood as an underlayment for other types of floor coverings, such as carpet or tile.

Can you use leveling compound on plywood?

It’s absolutely possible. A self-leveling compound is a polymer-based concrete that can level pretty much anything. To use this on plywood, you’ve to get rid of all dirt and debris.

Can you sand particleboard subfloor?

You will likely have seams, as most rooms require more than one sheet of flooring. Sand if desired; it is not essential, but sanding will help make your end result look better. However, particle board cannot be sanded to be perfectly smooth due to the nature of the material.

Is particle board or OSB stronger?

Because of the three-layer crisscross structure, OSB board is more uniform than the general particle board, has good toughness, strong nail holding power, and is not easy to expand due to moisture.

Can you vinyl plank over particle board?

While particleboard is actually only recommended for vinyl sheeting, vinyl tiles can be installed on it, provided the particleboard is sealed first. This prevents moisture from seeping between the tiles and causing the particleboard to swell over time.

How do you flatten a OSB subfloor?

The easiest method would be to use embossing compound. Mix up a good amount and trowel it on the depressed area. Use your long straight edge to screed it, much like you would a concrete slab. Since your depression is only a little over 1/8″, it should be very easy to spread that small amount.

Can you sand down OSB?

OSB, or oriented-strand board, is an engineered wood material sold in sheets like plywood. OSB cannot be sanded to take on a particular shape, but a light pass with sandpaper will smooth out the surface so splinters don’t scratch the bottom of the material you install over the OSB.

How do you level uneven plywood subfloor?

Using a flat-edged trowel, apply the floor leveling compound. Fill in all dips and uneven spots in the subfloor. Allow the leveler to dry as is instructed by the manufacturer’s product label. Remove hills or humps using a floor sander until the entire floor is level.

Should I remove particleboard subfloor?

If your time and budget allow, I would remove all the particle board subflooring and replace it with plywood. But if you feel the undamaged particle board will remain in good condition, you would only have to tear out the areas that need replacing.