Sub Floor Replacement

Look at the underlayment designed to go under vinyl, looks very similar to luan but has xx's in a pattern for nailing pattern. I have used this and luan. Both are Not designed to get wet, but I think the vinyl underlayment would be more stable.

cs2kplus wrote:
@westend...ah..yeah that sounds better. The problem with 3/16 (which I have seen) is that I am joining to existing front floor (which is fine). So the stackup height needs to remain the same. Unless - the is stuff you speak of can be compressed to 1/8?
@Teachers Pet....see above.

I was wondering if this would be ok?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-1-8-in-4-ft-x-8-ft-Tempered-Hardboard-832777/202046928?N=5yc1vZbqm7Z1z0z6jh

No, Lauan won't compress. Since you are starting from the bottom and working up, I would get a sample of each piece of the flooring puzzle and see how they stack to your existing floor. Plywood, nominal 1/2", is not. It's typically 15/32". Another thing you can do is where the new floor meets the part you are keeping is to screed a filler along that seam. If the new floor is within an 1/8" or 1/16" of the old, a feathered seam will make the transition invisible. Actually, when I install vinyl, I fill all of the seams, knots, holes, etc. with a light filler, anyway. I don't want anything to telegraph through the vinyl. If you are overlaying with laminated flooring or carpet, this is all a non-issue.

@westend...ah..yeah that sounds better. The problem with 3/16 (which I have seen) is that I am joining to existing front floor (which is fine). So the stackup height needs to remain the same. Unless - the is stuff you speak of can be compressed to 1/8?
@Teachers Pet....see above.

I was wondering if this would be ok?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-1-8-in-4-ft-x-8-ft-Tempered-Hardboard-832777/202046928?N=5yc1vZbqm7Z1z0z6jh

Luan is found at the box stores as "under-layment" for vinyl floor coverings over the plywood sub-floor. It is normally sold as 6mm or just under 1/4".

You don't want "moisture absorption qualities". You want moisture repelling qualities. Conventional Lauan board sold at the big box stores is a metric dimension, close to 3/16". It has the outer plies made from a tropical wood similar to Mahogany. That is a good thing as the faces hold up to moisture well. To insure it's durability for your project, seal it with conventional wood sealer like urethane or spar varnish. I have 25 sheets of it in my Starcraft and it is weathering well.

@GENECOP....having a problem finding luan 1/8". Home depot and Lowes has - but not in stock for some reason??? I am sure I can find elsewhere. But...really not sure if it matters what it is. Seems like just a sub flooring over plastic. But - I've heard it has some moisture absorption qualities. The floor won't get wet.....but I think the plastic below may attract it?

It's probably standard Luan.......not designed to deal with moisture.....There are other options out there but I would stick with the original materials......the floor should never get wet....