Vinyl Flooring-Floor preparation

[Fantapantz]

Ripping up the carpet and laying vinyl on 21mm chipboard.

How much can you sand off the chipboard to level the floor before you have to hardboard the entire area?

Outside the wet areas there is up to 9mm drop in a few places but it is still structurally sound. A few joints have differing levels (up to 2mm).

Whats the best process to follow when preparing the surface?

What is the best gap filler (japs between boards up to 2mm in some places)?

What is the best type of nail to use to nail the chipboard back down (original builder missed the joists in a few places)? (need excuse to buy a nail gun).

If I have to masonite the entire floor what sort of nails/gun and glue do you use?

Any details and advice appreciated.

:confused:
Thanks

[fxst]

I reckon fatten up the japs between the boards

oops sorry couldnt resist

[Tankstand]

I can't comment about the chip board but having replaced our carpets with vinyl (on top of concrete) I can reccomend you achieve perfection in the prepwork as vinyl will and does show up EVERYTHING! all of the little bumps and hollows. I hope I haven't put you off.
Mark.

[MICKYG]

Howdy Fanta,

Have observed a few of the installations you speak of and they have all laid down thin masonite sheet after levelling the basic flooring first. Vinyl shows every thing when laid.

Kind Regards

Mike.

[Fantapantz]

Resigned to the fact that I'm putting Masonite sheeting down.

Question is, what do you do with the joins?

The Australian Hardboard Websight says to leave 0.3mm expansion gaps between the sheets, all other advice I've been given/read says fill the gaps.

[re do 4 u]

can you use a styrofoam underlay under the vinyl, like they use with floating laminate floors?? this is meant to takeup any small irregularities. or are you gluing the vinyl down?? i have seen sheet vinyl laid, and they only glue around the edges.

[Fantapantz]

Floating floors are hard, vinyl is soft, it needs a hard base.

Been looking for nail guns that shoot 1 inch ring grip nails (any longer and they will go through the bottom of the chipboard), only one I could find is a Stanley Bostitch (pic below).

Anyone got one or something that can do the same evaluations appreciated?