Particle Board Subfloor Removal?

I have 5/8 plywood with 3/8 particle board glued and stapled on top. The particle board swells when wet and can break up easily but is impossible to remove from the 5/8 plywood. Wood like to put in good flooring over this and wondering about :

1.) Is there an easier way to remove the glued down subfloor. One small section took over 2 hours to scrap and chisel clean.

2.) Can you nail hardwood flooring over this stuff?

3.) Other?

Andy

Particle board should never be used in wet areas.
Remove all particle board, the heck with the glue.
You can thinset backer board over the glue and start tiling.

Obviously the particle board is bad news. It should never have been glued to the subfloor but it's too late now. The best-bet is to do what it takes to remove the particle board. Any damage you may do to the the original subfloor can later be covered with plywood before proceeding with a new floor covering. DON'T GLUE THE PLYWOOD!

What type of finished floor are you wanting to install? You mention wood and this is actually more of a tile-forum, so I'm a little confused.

Bud -

Are you saying don't glue plywood to a subfloor?

I have a subfloor and I getting ready to put 1/2 inch plywood and 1/2 inch backerboard next week - I thought I should glue the plywood. If not, should it be screwed? nailed? Or just alone and then screw the backerboard screws through both the backerboard and plywood to the subfloor.

Also, when securing plywood to subfloor, should I only put the screws to the subfloor, or is ok to put into the joists as well.

Thanks - and I am sure you hear it alot, you are a wealth of information and I am sure your clients get the best tiler around when they have you on the job!

Have a good day.

John

I feel your pain brother, I am in the process of pulling up about 400 sq ft of this particle board crap that has been stapled and glued down, damn the idiots that did this! I am using a heavy duty ice scraper, it works but is a long slow process.

John,

I think Bud is working late again. I'm sure he does excellent tile work for his clients. I've posted here for years too and I don't think he's made a mistake yet.

OK, we all know particle barf---ah board is useless and needs to be taken to the curb.

* Do not glue underlayment to the subfloor, ever.
* Screw the underlayment to the subfloor only.
* No need for 1/2" CBU on floors, but Ok if you want.
* Make sure the CBU is set into fresh thin set mortar then fastened per directions, tape etc.

Jaz

I have NEVER made a mistake, I thought I did once, but I was wrong!