Help with engineered floor over existing cypress pine subfloor.

I have an old cypress pine subfloor which, while structurally sound, looks a bit dodgy (ie poorly cut ends, boards not tightly together etc) and also has over 3 mm depressions between joists and other imperfections.

How can I fix this? I understand the concept of floor leveller but will it work on boards? Won't it run through the gaps? Can I staple something (ie cheap plastic) on the boards and lay the leveller on that? Will it fragment under the floor over time?

Also, is it necessary to glue down click lock engineered floor? Any point? The floor will have skirting boards added after it is laid.

If I had the cash I would pay a professional but the renovation mistress, she does love the high life and I have other bills to pay.

Any advice would be appreciated as I hate to do a bad job when a simple question could prevent it.

Run this thread in the sister 'Renovate Forums'. Link is in the left column. There is a sub forum for flooring.

I take it you mean floating floor and if so it is not stuck down. It has to be free to expand and contract or it will bulge up in places. If the floor is sound and solid try a few test strips at right angles to the floor boards. If you can walk on this and it does not move around then all is good to go. If not then a subfloor of masonite sheets needs to be laid first. I think all this was in the instructions. Ask the supplier who should have all the info you need.
Regards
John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by orraloon

I take it you mean floating floor and if so it is not stuck down. It has to be free to expand and contract or it will bulge up in places. If the floor is sound and solid try a few test strips at right angles to the floor boards. If you can walk on this and it does not move around then all is good to go. If not then a subfloor of masonite sheets needs to be laid first. I think all this was in the instructions. Ask the supplier who should have all the info you need.
Regards
John

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Thanks, yes it is floating.

I am unsure about masonite as won't it just match the dips in the cypress underneath? I'll move the post to the renovate forum and thanks for your post. Suck it and see is definitely an option here and probably the best way to proceed. I keep thinking I can't start becuase I have to nail it down!

I've just recently done this.

Recommended method was staple down 6mm MDF or masonite overlay.

Lay foam barrier underlay

Lay floating floor

Install skirting.

Worked for me.

regards