new floors in old home

[sheba1]

 

  I've recently purchased an old home (1960s). It has a hardwood subfloor in lounge and under lino and carpet appears to be a different hard wood subfloor. I'm interested in adding a hybrid floor in 2 bedrooms, lounge and kitchen but unsure how much floor prep is needed.

[JacobZ]

Hi @sheba1,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

Begin by thoroughly inspecting the floorboards for any damage, such as cracks, rot, or warping, and replace or repair any compromised areas.  

Clean the surface thoroughly by sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping to remove dust and debris. 

Drive down any protruding nails or screws, and fill holes or significant gaps between floorboards with wood filler, sanding them smooth for an even base.

Next, address unevenness by sanding down high spots and using a spirit level to identify areas that might require a self-levelling compound. You can use this Floor Sander to address high spots and Dunlop 15.9kg Timber Floor Level Flex Kit to fill low spots.

Once you've cleaned, levelled and prepared the surface, you can move on to planning and then laying the flooring. 

Typically, aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall or in the direction of natural light for aesthetic appeal is the way to go. Dry-lay a few rows to ensure the pattern looks consistent and make adjustments at the edges as needed. 

Most hybrid flooring will incorporate a foam underlay to the bottom of the planks, so there is likely no need for any underlay.

Once you are comfortable with your plan, proceed to lay your hybrid flooring.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob