Laminate boarding

Dylan123 · 15 Jun 2021

Hi,

have a suspended floor with floorboards.

I am getting quickstep signature as opposed to engineered on the advice here. It really is similar to wood and with toddlers running about spilling things and scratching things, seemed the better choice for living areas and kitchen.

However, I am running the laminate the SAME WAY as the floorboards. After consideration, I don’t want any risk of a shoddy job so I am not risking it and boarding over in ply (marine ply for the kitchen)

question is, I was planning on 6mm but my neighbour who is a DIY nut said 3mm is fine for what I’m doing.

I got the samples of the laminate and I was impressed by how rigid it is. I don’t think thick ply underneath will make it feel more solid, it’s very solid as it is.

another question, how much extra for off cuts? 10% of floor area?

dazlight · 15 Jun 2021

If the floorboards are flat you will be ok with a decent underlay. If not sand down high spots and use 6 or even better 9mm plywood.

Dylan123 · 16 Jun 2021

dazlight said:
If the floorboards are flat you will be ok with a decent underlay. If not sand down high spots and use 6 or even better 9mm plywood.

thanks for your help pal.

Just out of interest, I am getting quickstep signature (you recommended this before and it looks great and much more robust than engineered wood)

I will send a picture of the floorboards if that’s ok - they look flat and not cupped but might need an expert eye....

I think you’re a pro so I’m not trying to tell you your job - but every online guide and manufacturer says if you’re going the way of the floorboards, you MUST board them with ply and this is NON NEGOTIABLE.

Do you know why the advice is contradicting you, is it to cover themselves or what?

I don’t mind doing the extra work of boarding - if you had the time and money, would you do it anyway?

I can’t work out why the advice on this is so strong but you’re a pro and saying different.

Many thanks

dazlight · 16 Jun 2021

Yeah they say that because over time floorboards tend to cup so if any joints of the laminate land on a low spot on floorboards due to cupping it’s would weaken the joints. It’s to cover themselves.

I’ve laid lots going the same way. At least 200 I’d guess. No come backs.

if we have cupped boards I tend to screed them or use a primer called uzin 630.

Dylan123 · 17 Jun 2021

dazlight said:
Yeah they say that because over time floorboards tend to cup so if any joints of the laminate land on a low spot on floorboards due to cupping it’s would weaken the joints. It’s to cover themselves.

I’ve laid lots going the same way. At least 200 I’d guess. No come backs.

if we have cupped boards I tend to screed them or use a primer called uzin 630.

Right, thanks man.

I will check they aren’t cupped but let’s say 2 years later and I get a problem, it’s click laminate so worst comes to worst I can still just take it up, can’t I? Days work I guess but it saves me a ton of effort

Dylan123 · 18 Jun 2021

dazlight said:
Yeah they say that because over time floorboards tend to cup so if any joints of the laminate land on a low spot on floorboards due to cupping it’s would weaken the joints. It’s to cover themselves.

I’ve laid lots going the same way. At least 200 I’d guess. No come backs.

if we have cupped boards I tend to screed them or use a primer called uzin 630.

Any recommendation on a good underlay?

crazydaze · 19 Jun 2021

Dylan123 said:
Any recommendation on a good underlay?

Interfloor Multitex.

It's the wood subfloor spec equivalent to their TimbermateXL underlay, both excellent.

Dylan123 · 23 Jul 2021

dazlight said:
Yeah they say that because over time floorboards tend to cup so if any joints of the laminate land on a low spot on floorboards due to cupping it’s would weaken the joints. It’s to cover themselves.

I’ve laid lots going the same way. At least 200 I’d guess. No come backs.

if we have cupped boards I tend to screed them or use a primer called uzin 630.

Hey Dazlight!

I have checked my boards and they are perfect so I am laying without ply, they are so level you can’t even feel where they join. The house has amazing ventilation below so no cupping.

I have quickstep signature.

the box says to allow to acclimatise for 48h provided the heat is 18-22 and the relative humidity is 30-75%. If not it says leave them 1 week.

I have installed floors before without doing this and saw little gaps appear so I am keen to not have that happen again.

the temp is too high but it will be good in the next few days but the met office say humidity is over 75% for the next week.

the box says “relative humidity” - is this the same you see on the met office?

how do you approach this issue? Just leave it a week? Or am I over thinking this as usual!

also it says to leave them in the box but I opened a few to check the edges for damage. Shall I wrap them in plastic? Does this matter?

Thanks bro

mrrusty · 23 Jul 2021

I highly recommend quicksteps thermolevel underlay https://www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/product/50/quickstep_thermolevel_underlay for any sub-floor which is not perfectly smooth. I have tried several underlays - I find the foam ones can be bouncy. This is not cheap but IMHO is an excellent underlay that avoids both bounce and rattle - just makes a very solid feeling floor.

The humidity is what is in your house, not the weather outside. If it's raining outside the RH is 100%. Hopefully not in your house. I wouldn't worry too much - just let them acclimatise. However, if it really is 30 degrees indoors, I would hold off as they will contract very slightly as they cool!

Dylan123 · 23 Jul 2021

mrrusty said:
I highly recommend quicksteps thermolevel underlay https://www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/product/50/quickstep_thermolevel_underlay for any sub-floor which is not perfectly smooth. I have tried several underlays - I find the foam ones can be bouncy. This is not cheap but IMHO is an excellent underlay that avoids both bounce and rattle - just makes a very solid feeling floor.

The humidity is what is in your house, not the weather outside. If it's raining outside the RH is 100%. Hopefully not in your house. I wouldn't worry too much - just let them acclimatise. However, if it really is 30 degrees indoors, I would hold off as they will contract very slightly as they cool!

My neighbour has virtually the same house and he laid it with wood fibre underlay. Same installation as mine. 5mm underlay, his has been fine for 7 years, so should be fine. Will screed any tiny deflections but happy with what I’m doing

dazlight · 23 Jul 2021

Be fine leaving them 24 hours before fitting. We mostly drop off the day before.

Dylan123 · 24 Jul 2021

dazlight said:
Be fine leaving them 24 hours before fitting. We mostly drop off the day before.

thanks mate.

LAST question I promise. I got given 3 packs of underlay - it’s the tile type not a roll.

obviously I need to joint it together with tape.

do I just use a builders tape or do I use double sided and stick it to the subfloor as well as holding the tiles together.

thanks for your help

dazlight · 25 Jul 2021

Just duct tape mate

Dylan123 · 25 Jul 2021

Right don’t know if anyone can help but when I took the radiator off I made a mistake and flooded maybe 5 gallons of water over maybe a meter squared.

I need this to dry out before I lay the laminate and underlay. I was going to go with just letting it feel dry to the touch .
There is good ventilation below .

I presume this will be ok given the ventilation and I don’t need to let it dry for weeks or anything?

cheers

diynot

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Laminate boarding

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