​PHONE: 269-657-6588

WATER HEATER CLOSET FLOORS

ITS NOT IF THE WATER HEATER FLOOR GOES BAD, ITS WHEN. any leaks in the water closet will hasten the demise of said floor. The temprature/pressure relief valve usually lasts around 10 years in hard water. When the t.p.r. valve goes bad, water leaks out constantly. just the condensation from this leak is enough to warp the floor. Due to the weight of the water heater, the floor is under tremendous pressure to begin with, and can not stand the double assault. This is the only place i would consider

WHAT FLOOR COVERINGS ARE SUITED TO PARTICLEBOARD?

SO WHAT CAN WE USE FOR NEW FLOOR COVERINGS?  Particle board will not hold a fastener!  so that eliminates hardwood flooring, or any nail in place system. CERAMIC OR PORCELAIN TILES?  As we discussed in early blogs, NO MOISTURE should enter the particleboard. Not even thinset should be used, as it is enough to buckle the floor on installation! TILE WANT 11/4 inches worth of subfloor, mobile mod has 5/8 or half what is needed for manufacture to warrantee their product, and you can not add another

BLOCKING & BACKING EVERYWHERE!

Is all that blocking needed after the old floor comes up?  YES!  When the home was built,  the subfloor had support on all edges and ends. The walls are built on top of the sub floor. Walls that parallel the floor joists have no support other than the particleboard between joists. If the particle board goes soft, the wall sinks through the floor! when the old particleboard is cut out, new support is needed at all new ends and edges,  for the new plywood flooring. The walls want support too! the

paint the particleboard?

PAINT THAT FLOOR!  Some pro active people pull the carpet back and paint the floor! THIS IS A VERY COST EFFECTIVE WAY to improve the durability and lifespan of particleboard! and if you have that aquarium ,  paint is a must have tank accessory! any primer or primer based paint will work here. you can leave the tack strip in place and paint around and over it with no worries.