Installing a wooden floor

[ray bush]

Any ideas on what underlay i should use when laying a wooden floor over existing floorboards in an entrance hall.

[theren_911]

Can't remember what it was called, bit I used a sort of brown foam with a metalic looking gold cover on one side, I'd about 5-6mm thich and worked will on my floorboards when i layed laminate. Easy to lay aswel :D

[ray bush]

Thanks Theren.Not sure whether you would treat solid wood the same as laminate ?

[heathfield]

If it's floorboards on floorboards, you don't need anything.

[woulfie]

I laid a solid oak floor onto conctrete in my hall and got a 5 litre tin of special glue from a local timber merchant (Howarth Timber, of Grimsby) that never actually dries from what I recall. This allows the wood(s) to expand and contract. It has been brilliant. I'm sure that they could give you a product mane if you call them.

[Clanad]

If what you intend to install is the typical 2 or 3 inch wide, random length tongue and groove oak or maple hardwood flooring then you want to make sure the receiving floor is level and sound. If there are any squeaks, for example, then a loose board is indicated. As you probably know, the nails for the new floor will be driven in the groove portion of each board at an angle to hold it tight against the previous board. If this is intended to be a quality installation, each board underneath must be firmly nailed to the subflooring. Just check it closely and make sure there are no loose ones. Additionally, check the old floor for loose knots or badly shrunken seams. If there are they should be treated before laying the new one. Good luck, by the way...

[Mudman]

You should think aout laying thin ply (3.6 or 5.5mm) over the whole area first (if it's 'laminate' boards). The 3.6mm can be cut with a sharp stanley blade and will work out cheaper if your existing boards are in reasonable shape. The ply should also be 'sealed'.

The manufactures of the flooring usually make there own foam underlay. If not, the 'required' thickness of foam should be found in the installation instructions.

Make sure that your panels are suitable for use in bathrooms as entrance hall floors can recieve alot of moisture.