2 Qu's-fixing to chipboard & laying same direction a joi

[damurphster]

Hi all, been trawling through the search engine and just wanted to clarify a couple of things.

I'm installing a solid oak, 18mm thick, 140mm wide planks from Howdens.

They are going into a room 6m by 4m and on to suspended chipboard.

The general advise seems to be to float the floor over an underlay - am I right? If so can someone recommend me an underlay and adhesive and where to get them from. I have seen some 3mm in Homebase for £1.85 a metre but aware that they normally overprice and under quality!

Also my joists go in the same direction as I would like to place the planks (ie parallel)

Am I OK if they go the same way?

Finally I also have some stairs (3) to deal with - I assume this is not a problem with floating. The stairs are at 90 degrees (proposed) to the (proposed) direction of plank.

Thanks,

 

[WoodYouLike]

Presuming your suspended chipboards floor is load-bearing you can lay the floor length ways.
You need at least 16mm expansion gap

 

[damurphster]

board is about 20mm thick and has had carpet on it for about 10 years with no probs . Every shop i call is telling me to nail it - am i really ok to glue and float it?

 

[WoodYouLike]

You cannot nail on to chipboard: it'll 'explode' due to the force and angle of the nails.

Glue T&G's and float.

 

[JohnD]

chipboard is horrible rubbish. pull it all up and throw it away.

18mm T&G hardwood is sufficient for a floor on its own

you can use a ply layer underneath if you feel the need.

 

[damurphster]

chipboard is horrible rubbish. pull it all up and throw it away.

18mm T&G hardwood is sufficient for a floor on its own

you can use a ply layer underneath if you feel the need.

I considered it but would be a big job and the current chipboard goes under all the walls etc which I would not be able to do with ply.

The chipboard has been ok for prolly ten years or so would really rather not.

I'm still a bit nervous about floating it!

Is it worth me 'splashing out' on the fibreboard insulation pads at £2/m from Wickes? Are there cheaper suppliers? Google search not being too helpful...

Just bought bog standard 'no nonsense' wood glue from screwfix - I assume this will be adequate?