Solid wood floor - underlay?

[AdamD]

Which underlay for solid oak on both concrete and timber floor boards above suspended floor?

[Nickfromwales]

You'll need to work out if there's need for moisture control and where you're integrating that. For the timber floors I doubt you'll need any underlay, but some insulation may be of benefit.

 

Can you provide some more details of what's there / what you propose?

[AdamD]

On 03/04/2026 at 13:11, Nickfromwales said:

You'll need to work out if there's need for moisture control and where you're integrating that. For the timber floors I doubt you'll need any underlay, but some insulation may be of benefit.

 

Can you provide some more details of what's there / what you propose?

Suspended timber floor joists and timber floorboards in one part of the area, and solid concrete base in the other 

[Nickfromwales]

2 hours ago, AdamD said:

Suspended timber floor joists and timber floorboards in one part of the area, and solid concrete base in the other 

You are a man of few words, I'll need you to use a lot more of them

 

Damp proof membranes, any? Insulation, any? Thickness of these if present? Etc.

[AdamD]

DPM - not sure, presumably is one under the house!

insulation - no

 

pic of the area

[AdamD]

Another query on floor installation - I’m thinking secret nailing is a good idea, probably worth hiring one for the time saving v drilling + hammer nailing each nail?

[marshian]

3 hours ago, AdamD said:

Another query on floor installation - I’m thinking secret nailing is a good idea, probably worth hiring one for the time saving v drilling + hammer nailing each nail?

 

I bought a second hand portanailer - to do an oak floor........

 

I had to rebuild the bloody thing and replace some parts but once "serviced" it was brilliant to use and little or no effort with a perfect result on every nail (only time I had to drill and hand nail was for the last two rows)

 

 

[marshian]

PS I was supposed to sell it once the floor was finished but didn't - was thinking about doing a Buildhub loan on it as a way of giving back but no idea how to go about it.......

[-rick-]

49 minutes ago, marshian said:

PS I was supposed to sell it once the floor was finished but didn't - was thinking about doing a Buildhub loan on it as a way of giving back but no idea how to go about it.......

 

@jack?

[Oz07]

5 hours ago, AdamD said:

Another query on floor installation - I’m thinking secret nailing is a good idea, probably worth hiring one for the time saving v drilling + hammer nailing each nail?

Won't work on concrete though. I've done floating timber with glued joints before now. 

[AdamD]

33 minutes ago, Oz07 said:

Won't work on concrete though. I've done floating timber with glued joints before now. 

Yeah, can’t use it on that bit but I’d say 2/3 of the area to be done is floorboards so can use it there. Any tips for the concrete base? Just lots of glue to bottom of each plank and in between the tongue and grooves?

 

Insulation presumably quite important on the concrete base?