plying floors

[chirpychippy]

Good evening,

A colleague asked me a question yesterday regarding plying a timber suspended floor prior to secret nailing engineered oak to it. The existing floor is 6x1 softwood floor boards throughout which are relatively untouched and extremely level throughout. The engineered is being laid at 90 degrees to the existing. Under these circumstances is absolutely necessary to lay ply first?

 

[crazydaze]

Good evening,

A colleague asked me a question yesterday regarding plying a timber suspended floor prior to secret nailing engineered oak to it. The existing floor is 6x1 softwood floor boards throughout which are relatively untouched and extremely level throughout. The engineered is being laid at 90 degrees to the existing. Under these circumstances is absolutely necessary to lay ply first?

Yes.

 

[chirpychippy]

I like a straight answer, Thank you.

 

[JohnD]

Why?

 

[crazydaze]

Why?

Because to secret nail properly, the subfloor needs to be as level and consistent as possible. Ply the floor and you'll get a uniform and consistent subsurface to which the wood can be fixed, resulting in a level finish and dramatically reducing the issues associated with expansion, contraction, lifting, bounce and peaking/gaping of the joints.

 

[chirpychippy]

Thank you Crazydaze very informative. In answer to your question why JohnD, my colleague was asked the question by the customer whom is unhappy about the cost of having to ply the entire "except kitchen" ground floor of their house.

They just haven't budgeted for it and whilst they have paid for the oak floor already they are keen to get going with it.

 

[lockjohn]

yes but lay ply diagonal to floor to keep joints out of jonts on floorbords