How to Replace the Particle Board in a Mobile Home

Move all of the furniture from the room. Run a utility knife around the perimeter of the room to cut loose the linoleum or carpeting. Pull up the floor covering and remove it from the room. If you have floor tiles, scrape them off with a tile scraper.

Remove all of the screws holding the particle board in place with a screwdriver or a drill with screwdriver bits. Set the blade of a circular saw to less than 1 inch. Use the saw to cut the particle board away from the wall line. Pry off the particle board from the joists with a pry bar and dispose of the wood.

Pull up any nails, screws or staples that remain on the top of the floor joists. Clean any glue or other residue from the top of the joists with a putty knife.

Measure the perimeter of the room. Cut 2-by-4-inch lumber with the circular saw to the room’s dimensions. Insert the lumber beside the floor joists closest to the wall with the top of the 2-by-4 even with the top of the floor joist. Attach the 2-by-4’s to the joists with 2-inch galvanized screws. This step provides extra support for the new subfloor.

Unroll batt insulation between the floor joists, if desired. Cut it to fit with a utility knife.

Measure and cut 3/4-inch plywood to fit in the room. Set the plywood in place. Check for levelness with a carpenter’s level. Add wood shims between the floor joists and the plywood, as necessary, to level the floor.

Secure the plywood to the floor joists with 2-inch galvanized screws. Countersink the screws below the surface of the plywood.

Cover all the screws and fill all the cracks with wood putty. Allow the putty time to dry, then sand it smooth. Clean the new subfloor with a vacuum or broom and you are ready to install new flooring.