New hardwood reveals an unwanted can of worms.

[longball]

Last night I started pulling up old carpet in preparation for hardwood floor install. What I found underneath was a subfloor of pressboard/particle board. In addition to being junk it has also been damaged by either water, pets, of a combination of both. The roof suffered damage from the 2011 tornadoes (Alabama) and was replaced as a result. We've had no water leaks since moving in April of 2014. I don't build houses for a living but I'm going to take some tools, a rudimentary knowledge of construction, and a friend or two and tackle this myself. For now I have to decide what to replace this with after I get it tore up. Pretty much everyone on this forum knows more about this that I do so any suggestions are welcome.





Also, what is everyone using to host pictures now that photobucket isn't an option? I don't want to cost Chief a bunch of money by loading them straight to Tapatalk.

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[BobbyB]

I helped my parents replace flooring before, can be time consuming. I use imgur for photo hosting, granted I haven't uploaded any pictures in a long time but that's what I use when I do.

[rpar86]

Also, what is everyone using to host pictures now that photobucket isn't an option? I don't want to cost Chief a bunch of money by loading them straight to Tapatalk.

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Does Tapatalk charge the forum owner for that service? My initial thought was that if pics were uploaded straight to the RMTS server then yes, Chief would have to pay for extra storage/bandwidth. Using the tapatalk app, the pics are hosted on the Tapatalk servers, not RMTS. But again, not sure if tapatalk tracks that and somehow passes that cost on to the forum owner...??

Tried google pics -- that's not a great solution because sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. IMGUR like Bobby said should work, but i've heard its tricky for some to get the URLs out of the app on their phone (for those less tech-inclined).

[longball]

I thought the forum owner was charged something. Can't remember where I saw that though.

So far all the carpet, pad, tac strips, and baseboards are out of the babies room. Gonna park a trailer under a window so I can heave the scrap out onto it.



What is yalls thoughts on battery powered circular saws?

My old, cheap drill wouldn't cut it so I also bought a drill/impact set.

Rigid has a lifetime warranty on their drills and batteries and for now the Milwaukee set includes three batteries. Either one of those would have been nice I couldn't walk away from something that was assembled (at least partially) here in the USA.


Edited to add pics.

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[cruizng]

Battery Powered Circular Saw.... There are the new ones from Dewalt.... queue Ken..

I have used the 18V Dewalt for years and it has been great for me. Just have to make sure you have batteries.

http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/saws/circular-saws/612-165mm-18v-cordless-circular-saw-kit/dc390k

Then I bought this adapter for the newer longer lasting batteries and other then a bear to get out of the saw or driver it works great also

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200661496_200661496?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Power%20Tools%20%3E%20Power%20Tool%20Batteries%20%2B%20Chargers&utm_campaign=DEWALT&utm_content=52789&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqvvLBRDIARIsAMYuvBFD8pBbOpxOU4ajzgiCplkFrn53Lkvz0ugRXrPsc1YT2Zae3xpWW8QaAjb8EALw_wcB

 

[cudakidd53]

Plywood would be my choice - 3/4"

[Atkinsmatt]

Treated.

[longball]

Does it matter if the stuff I'm taking up is 5/8"? Some places it's under the sheetrock, with a small gap between the two. In other places it's cut even with the bottom of the Sheetrock.


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[cudakidd53]

A gap between the finished floor and Sheetrock is desirable so slight water infiltration, spills etc don't get soaked up by the Sheetrock.  It gets covered then by baseboard and trim.  You will need to work out your transition wherever your new flooring ends and meets existing flooring.

[Sammconn]

Cordless skill saws are great...but you need batteries as stated earlier.
I think the sawsall is the only tool harder on them.
I think I need that adapter now, have a metal cutting circular saw on old 18v, it loves batteries too.


For the flooring, 5/8 will do (I'd likely up it to 3/4), 3/4 is better, and tounge and groove best if your taking lots/all of it up.
If it's just to patch, I'd replace with same thickness plywood. Get flooring rated (if that's a thing) or best quality you can.
If you haven't had any water come in since owning everything else should be good.

[TexasRedNeck]

Plywood is now in 32th of an inch, so 5/8 is now 19/32 and 3/4 is 23/32. pick the one that's closer to what you have.  T&G for sure

use glue and screws to put it down to avoid squeaks.

[Farmer Jon]

Also, what is everyone using to host pictures now that photobucket isn't an option? I don't want to cost Chief a bunch of money by loading them straight to Tapatalk.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Does Tapatalk charge the forum owner for that service? My initial thought was that if pics were uploaded straight to the RMTS server then yes, Chief would have to pay for extra storage/bandwidth. Using the tapatalk app, the pics are hosted on the Tapatalk servers, not RMTS. But again, not sure if tapatalk tracks that and somehow passes that cost on to the forum owner...??

Tried google pics -- that's not a great solution because sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. IMGUR like Bobby said should work, but i've heard its tricky for some to get the URLs out of the app on their phone (for those less tech-inclined).

I just load pics straight off my tablet. I can't get taptalk to work on my phone for some reason.

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[Flyin6]

Last night I started pulling up old carpet in preparation for hardwood floor install. What I found underneath was a subfloor of pressboard/particle board. In addition to being junk it has also been damaged by either water, pets, of a combination of both. The roof suffered damage from the 2011 tornadoes (Alabama) and was replaced as a result. We've had no water leaks since moving in April of 2014. I don't build houses for a living but I'm going to take some tools, a rudimentary knowledge of construction, and a friend or two and tackle this myself. For now I have to decide what to replace this with after I get it tore up. Pretty much everyone on this forum knows more about this that I do so any suggestions are welcome.

Also, what is everyone using to host pictures now that photobucket isn't an option? I don't want to cost Chief a bunch of money by loading them straight to Tapatalk.


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Danke!

 

[Dawg25385]

As far as i know, Tapatalk will not charge to host photos... i use Tapatalk when posting photos from my phone, and Imgur when posting from my laptop. Imgur is super easy.

As for circ saws, cordless are great and have their place. I have an 18v Ridgid, works great. I also have a Skil worm-drive, and that thing don't take prisoners. But its obviously corded, and heavier.

For your floor, if it's just discolored from liquids, just Kilz it and be done. If it's rotten, cut it out and scab in something of equivalent thickness. Use enough liquid nails and it wont squeak. Is your new flooring going to be floating or nailed down?

[longball]

De nada Jefé.


Work came to a stop around 2230 tonight with all of the carpet, padding, and tac strip out of two rooms and the hallway. The baseboard in the baby's room also had to go and I got a bunch of the underlayment pulled up. Since the baby will be here soon my wife would like to just fixed the damaged spots instead or replacing everything. Since we're under a time constraint, don't plan on living here much longer, and that stuff is so hard to take up I'm inclined to agree with her. We'll see what tomorrow holds when I have some help from my father in law.

Speaking of being hard to remove, is there a tool of method I should be using instead of a flat bar and hammer?


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[longball]

As far as i know, Tapatalk will not charge to host photos... i use Tapatalk when posting photos from my phone, and Imgur when posting from my laptop. Imgur is super easy.

As for circ saws, cordless are great and have their place. I have an 18v Ridgid, works great. I also have a Skil worm-drive, and that thing don't take prisoners. But its obviously corded, and heavier.

For your floor, if it's just discolored from liquids, just Kilz it and be done. If it's rotten, cut it out and scab in something of equivalent thickness. Use enough liquid nails and it wont squeak. Is your new flooring going to be floating or nailed down?

I bought a Dewalt drill/impact combo and circular saw this afternoon. A Milwaukee/Rigid rep almost had me talked into one of their brands. I went with the Dewalt because they were the only company who had any part of their manufacturing process in the United States. The floor is rotten enough that big sections will have to be replaced. The new floor is 3/4" nail down.


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[Dawg25385]

Just set your depth on your circ saw and cut out squares, and pry em out with a wonder bar.

Now, is that fiberboard on top or cardecking or something (old homes did this often), or is that your actual subfloor that's over your joists?


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[longball]

Just set your depth on your circ saw and cut out squares, and pry em out with a wonder bar.

Now, is that fiberboard on top or cardecking or something (old homes did this often), or is that your actual subfloor that's over your joists?


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It's a layer of particle board on top of the subfloor. Underlayment if I'm not mistaken. Didn't even know there was such a thing until yesterday.


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[Dawg25385]

Yeah good, easy fix then. Cutout the damage, patch in the new, good to go


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[longball]

Just set your depth on your circ saw and cut out squares, and pry em out with a wonder bar.

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Yesterday I was cutting approximately 6"x6" squares and pulling them up with a wonder bar. Today, when my father in law showed up, he showed me an easier way. Each 8x4 piece takes about 1/4 of the time while doing it his way. I've got more floor to remove in a few days so I'll get some pictures then. My word smithing isn't good enough to explain it without them.

Good news is that by this time tomorrow we should have some of the new hardwood down. The plan is to put another coat of Kilz down early in the morning. By the time help arrives it should be dry enough to start replacing the particleboard. The friend who's laying the hardwood came by with one of the cleats he's using and its plenty long enough to reach through the particle board and into the plywood subfloor.


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[longball]

Found another gem. The ceiling fan in the living room must've been added after the house was built. Power was supplied to it by tying into a plug in the room directly above it (which we're turning into a nursery), bringing it out under the Sheetrock, and drilling a hole in the floor directly above the fan. Before they slapped the carpet back down all called it done they stapled the wire to the underlayment, piercing the insulation a half dozen times of so.

[JR]

People who do wiring like that should be hung by it. You should be able to snake that over now.

I feel your pain and the work to follow. I have the same coming soon.

Screw, don't nail and use LOTS of glue.

[longball]

When I get home this morning I'm going to pull up a section of the floor and route a new wire. We briefly considered having an electrician run the wire from the bottom side but that meant removing some Sheetrock and maybe some ceiling. That'd be another headache we don't want to take on right now. Worst part is that this will hold up the flooring. Oh well, I'm just glad we found it so it can be fixed.

Edit: added a couple pictures to earlier posts.


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[JR]

Yeah, I would agree with just cutting open the floor. Gives access to all and easy to cover/repair as you are doing a lot anyway.

[rpar86]

*gasp*   

That wire was a fire waiting to happen! How old is the house? Builder still around?? Should you make them aware of this?

[Sammconn]

    

I'm thinking its a low budget, covert previous homeowner screw up...

 

[longball]

*gasp*   

That wire was a fire waiting to happen! How old is the house? Builder still around?? Should you make them aware of this?

Yes it was. Its amazing what people will do to save a little time or money. The house was built in 1985 so I doubt he is. I think I'm with Sam on this one. This wouldn't be he first time I found a shortcut they took.

   

I'm thinking its a low budget, covert previous homeowner screw up...

 

That's what I'm thinking. They laid the floor downstairs themselves and there are several small gaps scattered around. I'm fairly certain they could only cut 90 degree corners and never really figured out the whole tape measure thing.

Mid project pic I snapped for the wife. Pregnancy hormones have her all worked up and she's asking for updates every hour. Her mood is constantly improving though as more and more flooring goes down.


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[TexasRedNeck]

My sister had a fire from a wire like that in her house.....

Really glad you found it now..

[longball]

Finished my part of this project today. At least until it's time for baseboards anyway. Ended up using almost 7 sheets of OSB, 3 boxes of screws, and  3/4 qts of kilz to patch all of the bad spots.


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[Tommy13]

How did the new flooring turn out?

[longball]

How did the new flooring turn out?

Floor itself is good. Yesterday I attempted, and failed miserably, at cutting baseboards and quarter round.


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[Bob Smith]

How did the new flooring turn out?

Floor itself is good. Yesterday I attempted, and failed miserably, at cutting baseboards and quarter round.


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Need one of those fancy saws like was posted a while back