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How to prepare floor for hybrid floorboard installation?

We plan to install hybrid floorboards in the bedroom. After taking off vinyl floor cover, we noticed that the material on the bottom look not too good (not sure what material that it is) and the top left corner (photo1) seems a bit unsolid when people stand on top.

My question is, what the material is and do we need to do any treatment before floorboard installation on it? Thank you very much for your kind help!

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Jewelleryrescue

Hi @wondersky

Those boards look like ply sheets that was laid for the vinyl to be fixed to which is good and normal and I can see no reason why hybrid floor boards cant go on top.

How ever if there are un solid sections that raise your concerns. You will need to lift those flat sheets and see if the floor joists are ok.

You may even discover real floor boards and choose to repair and sand them back to there formal glory rather than buy new hybrid versions.

Hope there is no serious damage under there.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @wondersky. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about flooring.

It's great to see that @Jewelleryrescue has already provided a helpful response. From the images, it does look like plywood, which is commonly used as an underlayment for vinyl flooring. However, as you’ve noted, some areas feel unsolid, which could indicate issues with the subfloor or joists underneath.

If the damage is minor, you might be able to replace or reinforce the affected sections of the plywood. However, if there’s significant damage, replacing it with structural flooring would be a more robust solution. Structural flooring, such as yellow tongue, will provide a stable and durable subfloor for your hybrid floorboards.

Before proceeding, it’s a good idea to inspect the joists below the plywood to ensure there’s no underlying structural issue. This will save you from potential problems down the track and ensure your new flooring has the support it needs.

Additionally, be cautious when removing old flooring materials, as some older buildings may have asbestos-containing materials, including in the adhesive used for vinyl floors. It’s important to wear protective gear and seek professional advice for safe removal if you suspect the presence of asbestos.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

wondersky

Thanks a lot!

wondersky

Thank you very much!

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