Can I Lay & Glue Down Parquet on a Particle Board Subfloor?

OSB Versus Particle Board

• Many people confuse OSB with particle board. In reality they are two different types of products completely. While OSB is specifically designed with large chunks of wood compressed together to be a strong subfloor material, particle board is designed as a finish material. It is comprised of tiny particles of wood glued together and is most commonly seen as a cabinet material in older homes.

Particle Board Basics

• Because particle board is made up of such tiny pieces, it doesn’t have the strength required for a subfloor material. Not only is it far too flexible, it also doesn’t have the necessary density to hold screws in place, as they simply rip up or pull through the fibers. Instead of anchoring the particle board in place, nails and screws eventually work their way free of the tiny particles and glue.

Moisture and Particle Board

• Once moisture has begun to set in beneath the finish surface of particle board, everything is over. The laminate face will peel away and the fibers inside will start to separate from the rest of the board, resulting in a flaking, peeling mess. Hardwood floors and parquet cannot be glued down to particle board, because the moisture that is inherent in all floors due to humidity and condensation will eventually attack the particle board.

Nature of Glue

• Glue is another issue for the particle board, because all glues that are designed to be used with parquets contain some form of moisture. These liquid adhesives immediately begin to affect the surface of particle board by moistening the laminate covering. Once this begins to soften, the laminate has that much more risk of beginning to peel and flake away.