I read that some engeneered hardwood floor panels have high-density particle board layered in.There are also engeneered hardwood flooring that only has plywood layers and a natural-wood on top. Isn't particle-board worthless sawdust & glue that falls apart, looks shabby, puffs out.. over time? Doesn't it dissentigrate when wet? Is this really a good idea to put in flooring? Is High-density particle board worth anything as a component in engineered hardwood flooring? Is it better to avoid it like the plague?If I do use it, what sort of moisture-barrier should I put over the cement foundation? The house is about 15 years old, so, it's up to code & should have a moisture barrier under the cement foundation, according to the contractor I talked to, but, with PARTICLE-BOARD should I take extra precautions?How can you tell which engineered hardwood floors have HDPB, which have only plywood, and which are waterproof? I plan on getting it at Home Depot or Lowes. Thanks
I agree with you that MDF or high-density particle board is not a good substrate. It swells up more than plywood when it gets wet or moist (just atmospheric moisture can be a problem; best to have air conditioning, but if that's impossible, use the plywood-based flooring). Glue is a component of plywood, too, but the plies are actual wood, not just chips of wood. Check out Bostik's products for sealers/adhesives to prepare a concrete slab for wood flooring. It's very important that you or your contractor use the recommended notched trowel to apply the sealer/adhesive.
