should I install laminate over hardwood?

[ubonline]

Hi, I'm getting ready to install laminate, and some people tell me it's better to install over the old hardwood (in terrible shape, not worth re-finishing). The problem is that the old hardwood creaks a lot. Should I just screw down the old hardwood to get rid of the creaking noise, or remove it and use plywood?

[Kman]

If you're sure it's the hardwood that's causing the squeaks, you could screw down the problem areas and install a floating floor on top. What you'll need to do before installing your new floor is make sure that you don't have any sagging floor joists, or any other subflooring issues that might make your floor uneven. Even after you screw the old floor down, I'd walk on it for a day or two to make sure you got all the creaks out.

Do you know what the thickness of the subfloor is?

[ubonline]

I'm pretty sure it's the hardwood squeaking, since even the slightest step causes a loud squeak in some places.

The subfloor is probably only 1/2 inch. The basement ceiling is covered, so I can't see the subfloor or joists from below, but from working on other rooms in the house, the only issues were that the subfloor is old & thin.

[Kman]

If your subfloor is only 1/2", that may be one of the reasons it is squeaking and in such bad shape. Do you have a floor vent where you could check the actual thickness of the subfloor? 1/2" is not good for much of anything, except as a second layer.

[ubonline]

Good idea about the vent. It looks like the subflloor is 3/4, but looking at the condition of the hardwood near the vent, I think ripping it up and putting down new plywood would be the better option.

It's a 50+ year old house, and let's just say that quality was not the main ingredient of the original materials.

[Kman]

ubonline said Good idea about the vent. It looks like the subflloor is 3/4, but looking at the condition of the hardwood near the vent, I think ripping it up and putting down new plywood would be the better option. It's a 50+ year old house, and let's just say that quality was not the main ingredient of the original materials.

That's probably a good idea. That way you can also check the condition of the subfloor. If it's in good enough shape, you might still want to screw it into the joists all over. In 50 years' time, some of the nails might have worked loose. That might be part of the cause for the creaking you're hearing.

Also, if the original subfloor isn't tongue and groove, you'll do well to install a second layer, probably 1/2" would be adequate. Make sure to stagger the joints between your subfloor and underlayment.