Subfloor preparation for mixed surfaces

[Pete_C]

I've searched and have yet to find a definitive answer to my problem. I am having a new kitchen fitted and have gutted the old one and the dining room, and have had the wall removed between the two to make one large open plan space. I intend to cover the entire floor with laminate.

The old kitchen has a newly laid concrete floor (was previously clay with Victorian quarry tiles), and the dining room has its original floorboards which have been made good and soild.

The question is what I need to do the prepare the floors. The kitchen units and cooker will be installed prior to the laminate going down.

What do I do before the units are installed?

A: Do I do nothing, fitting them over the existing concrete and floorboards, then fit ply or chip and the laminate later.

B: Put down 18mm T&G chip across the whole room, then install units and laminate (if so, will the chip expand because it will be "pinned" in place as there will be units and a range cooker on each side and the weight will not allow it to move?).

C: Put down thin plywood across the whole room (as above, and with the same question about expansion).

D: Something else entirely (if so, what please?).

Many thanks for any help with this, as every book, internet resource and pub expert has a different theory.

 

[mattysupra]

Try reading HOW TO LEVEL A VERY UNEVEN WOODEN SUBFLOOR. you do the same but without the plywood on concrete section. Just prime concrete area and flow sreed over PLYWOOD in wooden area in one go. You should find info half way down forum page your in now. And you can fit kitchen on top of this as no movement. I would fit kitchen before laminate goes down tho. O and if new concrete you need to make sure its dry before doing prep work.

 

[Pete_C]

Isn't this overkill, as the floors are both level? I just thought I needed a continuous surface to lay the laminate on.

Thanks.

 

[mattysupra]

if floors are both level to each other you dont have to do anything. I thought when you on about laying boards across the lot you was trying to get levels correct.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Whenever you have two types of underfloor in one room and plan to install wooden flooring you'll have to create one type of underfloor.
See here for more info.