In hindsight, we should have put hardwood in the living room when the house was built in 1999. But we didn’t, and now after a tiny addition (adding 34 square feet to the miniscule 130 square foot room) we are ready to rip up the carpet and put down hardwood.
However, under the carpet is a sub floor called ‘K3’ which apparently is not what you’d typically put under hardwood. It is stapled every 4 or 5 inches, and looks like it would be a very big job to take it up. Can we install hardwood over top using longer nails to go through the ‘K3’ and into the plywood below? We’re leaning towards cherry, which looks fantastic in our kitchen and dining room.
Thanks,
SO
Replies
is that underlayment or the true subfloor? Never heard of it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" Let behind the eyes, that which one talks"
Rumi....
describe this "K3" a might better...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Hmm, maybe K3 is a Canadian term or brand?
K3 is 3/8" particle board. There is plywood underneath. Can we install hardwood over it? Or do we have to rip it up?
SO
hadn't heard PB called that before...
3/8 fer sure???? that thin.... leave it be..
use longer nails or staples and aim fer the joist..
don't ferget yur felt under the hardwood...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
that thin.... leave it be
Dimple down the "proud" staples, too, I'm thinking (they may not have bothered the carpet padding, but will not be nice to the new HW.
Hmm, How thick is the new HW versus the rest of the flooring, I wonder? They may "need" that 3/8 to get proper flooring in (but might not with prefinished, or snap-lok, etc.)Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
good call Cap...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
use a ice scraper to remove the carpet stips and staples...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
use a ice scraper to remove
Or Pablo & a small cat's paw.
You're not allow to use my good polycarbonate ice scraper on floor staples. It was a freebie, and has outlasted three vehicles.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
QUIT THAT!!!! I wuz thinkin the SAME thing...my scraper is Lexan..made it 5 yrs ago...where is that any way?//LOL
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I've..seen all good people turn thier heads, so, satisfied, I am on my way.."They kill prophets for profits"..And, that's...the truth.........phhatt
try the walk behind sidewalk kind...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
the walk behind sidewalk kind
Shoot, this is Texas, we don't have that sort of fangled technology here (even in Texline where they might need it . . . )
I was mentally double-clutching as was, I couldn't picture using the carbide cabinet scraper for the application, either . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
you had one on yur back porch...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
K-3 is normally an underlay used for vinyl flooring. The vinyl protects it from moisture which can disintegrate K-3 in a hurry. MacMillan-Blodel did come out with a Premium K-3 which had marine quality resins and could be used as an underlay for tile. I don't remember seeing the premium K-3 untill maybe 2001.
If the K-3 extends into an area that may suffer some excess moistue, (kitchen or exterior entrance) it might be a good idea to coat the K-3 in these areas with some spar varnish.
Also I would recommend flooring stapes instead of nails as the staples would be less likely to smash apart the K-3.
Be Constructive
Gord
St.Margaret's Bay NS
Edited 1/31/2005 11:31 pm ET by gordzco
Thanks Gord. I'm not worried about excessive moisture in the living room as the entry hallway next to the living room is tiled. Anyways, I live in Alberta so moisture is rarely a problem!
So if the PB is 3/8", and the hardwood (likely prefinished cherry) goes over top, how long do these staples have to be?
SO
2" mimimum...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I was in Calgary from 98 to 03 and find it curious that K-3 was used in the livingroom. Possibly it was designated for lino as a "Family Room". I believe the Premium K-3 had red lettering which was ok for tile. Blue lettering on the sheets was for lino.
It varies from builder to builder and installer to installer, but a high percentage of the K-3 subfloors are glued down. After some initial installation problems with the original product, glue down, was the only way an installation would be warranted by the manufacturer. You should be able to tell by looking at the exposed edges where there may be some overspill. The glue used was reglular old carpenters glue. The floor being stapled every 4 or 5 inches as you mentioned earlier would be consistent with manufacturers recommendations. Lifting sheets of stapled K-3 is a horrendously time consuming job. Lifting glued and stapled sheets is a nightmare.
What type of subfloor is below the K-3? OSB(chipboard)? or plywood? I doesn't really matter, as you're probably going to install the cherry anyway, but plywood would be better.
As for staples, 2" is maximum for the Stanley-Bostich flooring stapler.
Hope your warm weather continues.
Be Constructive
Gord
St.Margaret's Bay NS
We are looking at installing maple hardwood overtop of our K3 flooring and linoleum. Just wanted to see how this turned out? Did you go with 2" nails? Is it still holding up 5 years after the fact? We are also in calgary so same climate. Thank you.