Installing 8mm Laminate over Hardwood flooring.

So I purchased this beautiful Alloc Laminate flooring, its 8mm. I dont want to pull up the hardwood flooring but I dont want to refinish it either. Its in great shape support wise, but its going in the same direction that I want the Laminate to go. What are the steps.

I was thinking 1/2 particleboard would be the cheapest and could use it as the underlayment. The flooring is going in the living and dining room , no wet areas.

Is this a good move? Would I still have to use another (foam/plastic) underlayment?

Im on the second floor. No concrete underneath.

[Al Gladden]

why would you want to cover up real hardwood with cheap laminate? jeez..... refinish it...

[Daris Mulkin]

I'm not a laminate or wood person, my way of thinking if you put an underlayment over the wood you are going to ruin it anyway. I'm with Al refinish it. It will last much longer than the laminate. Laminate is just a picture on a backer of some sort, it chips and scratches just like wood. Only it is not as easy to repair.

Daris

[Kman]

If the floor is in good shape, I don't see any reason to put down an underlayment for your laminate unless you're trying to gain some height. I would just lay the pad down and go.

If you are trying to gain some height there are some thicker pads you could use, and they're cheaper than putting down an underlayment. I would use some type of pad, though, and I think most of the manufacturers recommend it. It makes walking on the floor much quieter.

Plus you wouldn't have all the staple/nail holes in your wood floor should you ever choose to remove the laminate and refinish the wood.

The hardwood floor in the house is 90+ years old. Like I said structure wise its sound. But its not in shape to refinish.

The question is what I should do about running laminate that is parallel with the hardwood floor. I was told that might be an issue. If you have any thoughts on this it would be greatly appreciated.

[Barry Carlton]

ircswh

Kman pretty much nailed it!!!! It is a floating floor, so there should not be issues with your sub floor as long as it is within flatness tolerances. If it does wear out, you can always pull it out and have the exact same floor, in the same shape as you do now. You would only need to replace a few door casings.

Again, NO UNDERLAYMENT!!!!!

barry

[Kman]

I think what you might have been thinking of is that hardwood is usually run perpendicular to the floor joists. In your case if it's flat enough, you've got no problems.

Thanks guys!!

[Jeff Short]

Should be no problem going directly over the wood, as long as the floor is flat. If it is Alloc original or domestic (both have attached cushion) you will not need any other cushion.