We are dealing with bouncy floors in our mobile home. We pulled up carpet and padding and tried to pull up the plywood and it will not come up easy. My husband thinks that the plywood is glued to whatever is under there (after we removed nails etc it won't budge) Is it okay to lay an outdoor grade plywood sheet over the areas and do we lay the new plywood on the exact same spots or stagger them? Also, nails or screws to hold it down?Thanks!!
Lot of times in mobile homes,the particle board is nailed and glued to the floor joists running under the house.I would definitely not take up the old unless you have some rotten wood.Just take some builders paper or felt and run right on top of the old,then put new plywood over the felt and stagger them the same way, just start the end of the new in the middle of the old.Also don't use exterior grade plywood.Go to the lumber yard and tell them what you are doing as far as floor covering and they should steer you straight on what grade to get. On your floor height diifference,What type of floor covering are you putting down and what type is on the floor where you are not? This also appilies to whether you use nails or screws. Either nails or screws should be okay when using carpet. As long as the floor difference is not more than 3/8s of an inch the carpet guys shouldn't have too much trouble tying into the old.Might be a small drop there,but shouldn't be too noticable.Anyway G.L.
If it is really plywood, and has no rotting, I would lay more plywood on top. However, if it is not true plywood, but rather chip wood or particle board, rip it up and get it the heck out of there. Nothing but trouble, that stuff. Better to get it out now, than deal with repeated headaches from it for years to come. EDIT: yes, the walls are built on top of the base floor, but if it is particle board, you can chisel through it at the base of the wall. It means that you will have to trim each sheet of plywood that goes near the wall before installing it, but so be it.
I just got done replacing floors in a mobile home and you should take up the old floor first, Its got some glue like the other guy said at the floor joist to keep squeaks down and can be ripped up with a crow bar and check the floor joist for rot or your wasting time and money. I took a reciprocating saw and cut around the walls because they do sit on the flooring and is better then having the 3/4 inch gap where it meats what you did not change. After a few swear words and some sweat you will be glad and think about it, If you leave rotted wood under new wood some where down the road it will buck what you put down. good luck..
I have the same problem.After pulling up the pad I could see stains that could of came from pet urine.I kilz/sealed the old plywood before I applied my second layer of plywood. I suggest going over the existing floor.You may have to trim the jambs and doors down though. You should be able to see the original plywood seams,I would stagger the seams and joints.This will keep air from entering or escaping from the same joints. I would glue and nail my new OSB/Plywood.Of course you should find floor joist layout first and cut sheets accordingly.Nailing would be faster if using an air nailer.Ring shank nails should be used.Screws have the tendency to snap and break.Glue will help bond the layers together to avoid squeaks.
