Put plastic on a wood floor?

[suburban farm girl]

My husband, who is a flooring contractor, has this suggestion:

Leave the particle board in place. Purchase 1/4 inch marine grade plywood (marine grade is a little more expensive, but in the long run will be much cheaper - water won't get into it) and install that over the particle board. You can then paint it or put vinyl over the plywood.

He says painting the particle board won't work. The paint will peel up. His experience with vinyl tiles is that they shrink. If you install them over particle board the particle board will begin to disintegrate under them because stuff will seep through the cracks.

 

[Annichka]

Will polyurethane peel up? I ended up covering it in a couple of coats of poly and so far so good, but maybe over time it won't be, huh? And if it peels up I'd be worried about them eating it.

Grrr...@#%& particle board...

 

[suburban farm girl]

Hubby says IF the particle board is in good shape, IF it hasn't already been moisture damaged by water or chicken stuff, the polyurethane should be OK. (When particle board gets wet it absorbs the moisture like a sponge, and when it dries it turns to dust - totally decomposes - so nothing sticks to it.) He suggests that you use a waterproof caulk around all the edges. If you decide to put something on top of that, he recommends sheet vinyl as opposed to vinyl squares. AND he says to not expect it to last a long time - and since he doesn't know the conditions of how it was constructed, or your climate, etc. he can't answer the 'how long' question. He did say if a leak occurs it's history, unless you've done a REALLY good job protecting it. (That also means you'll have to be really careful with how you clean it and use cleaner/water sparingly - like just wiping it down.)

Basically, he says you're putting off the fix that is/will be needed. (He still recommends covering it with marine grade plywood and sheet vinyl.)

I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but at least you know a little better what to expect.

 

[patandchickens]

Yeah, neither polyurethaning the particleboard nor putting down vinyl tiles will be a very lasting solution (the paint will wear and peel; the tiles will admit moisture between 'em). Sheet vinyl would be more lasting *if* there is no way for moisture to get between vinyl and particleboard. Plywood would be the best long-lasting solution.

I think if it were me, and I already had the particleboard in place, I would put sheet vinyl down on it with quarter-round trim and caulk around the edges. Then once it eventually got to be a problem I would replace iwth plywood (with or without vinyl).

JMHO,

Pat