Ply vs Hardboard vs Medium board

[deko]

Hello all,

I'm planning to install laminate flooring in my living room later this year. The existing floorboards are currently orientated in the direction I want to lay the laminate, so I will be covering the whole surface with some panel board first.

The current floor is uneven and draughty, so I'd like to lay down the panel board now, months ahead of the actual laminate. Hence, I require the surface to be tough enough to take the rigors of everyday life (feet, chairs etc).

The first suitable product that springs to mind is plywood - its thin enough and tough enough to do the job. However my house is currently a formaldehyde free zone and I'd like to keep it that way

Can anyone suggest a formaldehyde free solution?
Do hardboard and mediumboard use a formaldehyde based resin? If not, do you think they are tough enough to take a bit of abuse over the next 4 months?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

d.

 

[Jasonb]

You can get zero formaldihide MDF but there is not much point as the MDF core to most laminate floor is not formaldihide free

Jason

 

[deko]

Thanks Jason, I heard of formaldehyde free mdf, but I've not seen anywhere that sells it. Any pointers?

I'll be installing engineered flooring and the formaldehyde emissions are very low, especially compared to mdf, so I can live with that