How Do I Install O.S.B. as Flooring?

Question from Trevor in Edmonton, Alberta —–

Dear Shell,

My wife and I love the look of chipboard on a floor. We have seen it in a couple of trendy businesses and would like to do the same in our house. Can you give us a few suggestions about:

a) How thick?

b) What type of varnish? (We like the clear look)

c) When to varnish? Before, after, or both?

d) Should we put a glue or adhesive down before?

e) How to fasten. Nails, Screws etc?

f) Any other tips you can think of knowing we know nothing.

Thanks for your help, we love your show and books.

Trevor
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Dear Trevor,

O.S.B. (chip board) has become very popular as a trendy floor and wall finish.

1. Use a minimum of ½” or 7/16” material.

2. Allow the O.S.B. to be in the room for 3 days before installing. It is important to allow the O.S.B. to acclimatize and reach the proper moisture level within your home.

3. The sub floor should be clean and dry and if there any squeaks, now is the time to screw the floor tight using 2 ½” #8 wood screws (drill pilot hole through sub floor plywood first).

4. Apply All Purpose Wood Glue to the sub floor in beads 12” apart and place a bead of glue around the entire sheets of O.S.B. 2” from the edge (Weldbond is my choice for glue).

5. Install the O.S.B. using 1 3/4” casing nails (set the nails with a nail set 1/8” below surface). Lay the O.S.B. opposite to the way your plywood sub floor runs and nail into the floor joists where possible. Note: O.S.B. sheets should be just butting one another not bashed together tightly. (approximately 1/16” between sheets would be great).

6. Apply a solvent-based urethane such as Varathane Professional Floor Finish (Black Label Can) as your finish (after you sand the floor…sanding is optional). Do not use a water-based urethane.

It’s Just That Easy

Marks on a Newly Installed Laminate Floor

Question from Russell in Burnaby, B.C. —–

Dear Shell,

I have installed a laminate floor (glue together). Bought from Home Depot, Classic Oak Block. While installing it, I had some white cardboard from the wrapping the planks came in and used it face down with some weight on it for a few days. What has happened looks like there is some “ghosting on the floor”. I cannot rub it off as it looks to be underneath the laminate plastic. I have tried TSP, Nail polish remover and Goof Off. Home Depot’s simple and brilliant response is to simply return the plank. Not possible as it is glued together in the middle of my living room. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Russell
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Dear Russell,

Does the floor take on the proper and natural look when wiped with a damp cloth? If so, my suggestion would be to apply Varathane Renewal Floor Finish System to your new laminated floor. You may be able to convince your supply source to make this available to correct your problem. Flecto Varathane Renewal is a great restoring and protective product for laminated floors.

You might ask your retailer for the contact name of the company that manufactures the product and you can put your question to them. They may have run into this problem in the past and with any luck, have developed a fix that will work for you. If so, please let me know and I’ll share it here on our website.

Good luck with your project!

Shell Busey

Installing a Sub-Floor over a Concrete Basement Floor

Question from Ron in Campbell River, B.C. —–

Dear Shell,

In the basement of a 40 yr old house, I want to rip up the old carpet and put a sub floor down and recarpet, should I place some kind of poly on the concrete floor 1st before I put down the sub floor and are there any other considerations I should be aware of prior to undertaking this project.

Thanks,

Ron
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Dear Ron,

I might tackle your project like this:

1. Wash the floor with Bio Wash Simple Wash.

2. Rinse well and allow it to dry thoroughly.

3. Apply Cloverdale Paint Aqua Seal using a low-pressure sprayer.

4. Lay down Delta FL Floor Membrane available through TimBrMart or Home Hardware Building Centres or call Basement Systems @ 1-888-379-3456.

5. Apply ½” or 5/8” plywood over the Delta FL.

If you follow these steps, you will end up with the best thermo break sub-floor you can achieve when you want to steals just 1 inch of headroom.

It’s Just That Easy

Shell Busey

Should we use Tarpaper or Typar House Wrap Under Stucco?

Question from Cindy in Newbrook, Alberta —–

Dear Shell,

Some confusion about Typar House Wrap. We heard on your radio program some time ago that it was not good if you are going to stucco the building and that in fact there was some lawsuits going on in B.C. Then saw the demonstration on your T.V. program and you did indicate that it was good for siding or stucco. Please clear this up as we have put on the Typar and plan to stucco, but are now considering tearing it down and replacing it with tarpaper. Extra cost and time. HELP!!!

Thanks,

Cindy
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Dear Cindy,

In B.C., any house wrap used under stucco requires a Rain Screen Strapping detail. Ever since the problems with “Wet Condos” became apparent, house wrap which is an air barrier, can only be used under vinyl siding. Please check with your local building permit office for local codes and advice in your community. Tarpaper 60 minute grade or a double layer of 30 minute grade is being used on most stucco applications here in Vancouver and always in addition to Rain Screen Strapping.

As for the TV show, unfortunately the episode you saw was an older “re-run” and since that episode was produced, experience has lead to a change in thinking and codes here in B.C.

Hope this helps.

It’s Just That Easy.

Shell Busey

I Want To Replace my Wood Burning Fireplace with a Natural Gas Fireplace

Question from Carol in Didsbury, Alberta —–

Dear Shell,

I want to replace my wood-burning fireplace with a gas fireplace. I am wondering what kind is the best fireplace for this purpose.

Thanks,

Carol
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Dear Carol,

This is a very popular conversion.

Good, better, “best”, consider a unit designed without the need for a circulation fan. Valor makes excellent, energy efficient natural gas fireplaces. Please call 1-800-468-2567 for more information on the excellent selection of Valor fireplaces and the location of a dealer near you.

Keep in mind that you want the best efficiency without a fan for both radiant and convection heat. Models designed with a fan tend to become far less effective when a power outage occurs and the fan is unable to do its job (when you need it most!)

It’s Just That Easy!

Shell Busey

What Should I Use To Waterproof My Deck/Roof?

Question from Gillard in Terrace, B.C. —–

Dear Shell,

We have an 8’ x 38′ deck running the full length of our house, which mainly serves as a roof over our firewood stored below. (Our basement has ground floor entrance. The deck is t&g plywood, which we have, over the course of many years painted, stained and even coated with driveway sealer. We need to be able to shovel the snow off it in winter. We wondered about using torchdown roofing on it.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Gillard
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Dear Gillard,

Your choice of a torch down membrane on the deck is okay but you will have to protect the membrane because it is not designed to be a walking surface. One option would be to use a wood duck board system.

My choice would be to apply a new layer of plywood (fir) minimum ½” thick and apply all proper flashings on wall and outer drip edge then apply a fibreglass deck surface that can stand up to the abuse of winter and shoveling, etc.

If you hire someone to install the fiberglass deck for you, make sure it is done properly to ensure years of satisfactory performance.

If you can, get references from customers who had their decks installed several years ago to make sure that they are still performing as they should.

You could also use a vinyl decking applied by Duradek. Their product is waterproof and acts as a roof membrane. You would have to take care when you shoveled however and would be wise to discuss your needs with your local Duradek dealer.

It’s Just That Easy!

Shell Busey

Should I Upgrade My Insulation? I Have Wood Shavings Right Now.

Question from Andrew in Winnipeg, MB —–

Dear Shell,

Our 1000 square foot home is insulated with wood shavings. I don’t believe it is adequate insulation for summer or winter. What do you recommend should be done to upgrade this insulation?

Thanks,

Andrew
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Dear Andrew,

For best results, remove your wood chips and draft-seal your ceiling (Contact Resources Canada 1-800-387-2000 for a free copy or their Air Leakage brochure).

Once you’ve taken care of any air leakage, consider Roxul Mineral Fibre Insulation Minimum R-40 thickness.

Some people may elect to leave the wood chips but if they get damp they will give off a nasty odour and have been known to promote mice colonies.

It’s Just That Easy

Shell

Vinyl Flooring – Do You Get What You Pay For?

Question from Donna in Calgary, AB *****

Dear Shell,

We are replacing the lino in our kitchen, and as I have been looking at different companies, and types, I am wondering what the difference is in quality, and durability? Does is follow that you get what you pay for with vinyl flooring? What is the difference between builders grade, and a type that is not. I looked at Mannington Flooring today, their Naturals line; it was their top of the line, and I loved the colour and texture. It is ridiculously priced; but I would consider it, if I were purchasing something that would last well, and clean well, therefore being worth the investment.

Thanks!

Donna
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Dear Donna,

Mannington is one of the top grade vinyl floor coverings and has all the best features.

In answer to your initial question, yes you do get what you pay for when it comes to flooring. Normally a builder grade will be a basic colour range and design that will be found in many homes. For a new look and feel as well as better performance, I would suggest going the ‘best’ route.

It’s just that easy

Shell Busey

How Can I Insulate My Garage Door?

Question from Deborah in Edmonton, AB —–

Dear Shell,

I have an uninsulated garage door that I need to insulate because the bedroom above it gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Do I glue Styrofoam insulation on the door or can I use foil insulation?

Thank You,

Deborah
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Dear Deborah,

For the best result, use a foil insulating product such as Reflectix, Astro Foil or Korona, all of which are available across Canada. Be sure to tape all the joints. You can apply it with Velcro and be sure to allow the product to hinge when the door goes up and down.

It’s Just That Easy

Shell Busey

I Have Tree Needles All Over My Cedar Shake Roof

Question from Mike in Abbotsford, B.C. —–

Dear Shell,

Our house backs onto a green belt with lots of trees, the needles from these trees fills the grooves in between the cedar shakes on our roof. I’ve been told these needles hold moisture and will make the shakes rot and should be cleaned out. Is this true? If so who would you recommend for this job?

Thanks,

Mike
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Dear Mike,

Needles tend to make your roof look shabby rather then cause rot. To clean your roof use a leaf blower and stiff bristle brush to loosen the needles. Then you can follow with a garden hose flushing the needles from the ridge (top) down. Caution: Please be careful on the roof because it will be slippery. If you would like someone to do this job for you, please call the HouseSmart Centre at 604-542-2236 for one of our referral companies who can do the job for you.

It’s Just That Easy!

Shell Busey