I totally get where you’re coming from—first time I did prep, I thought a quick vacuum would cut it. Ended up with little bumps under the underlayment that drove me nuts. Now I vacuum, then go over it with a barely damp microfiber cloth. I tried a leaf blower once and, honestly, just ended up chasing dust around the yard... not worth the hassle for me. Haven’t used a tack cloth yet, but I hear they’re good if you’re really worried about fine dust.
I’ve seen a lot of folks swear by tack cloths, but honestly, I’m always a bit skeptical about how much difference they make unless you’re dealing with super fine dust. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just overkill for most jobs. Anyone ever run into issues with moisture from the damp cloth method? I’ve seen a couple floors where the underlayment bubbled up later and always wondered if leftover moisture played a part.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s just overkill for most jobs.
Yeah, I kinda feel the same about tack cloths—feels like bringing a bazooka to a pillow fight unless you’re refinishing furniture or something. As for damp cloths, I’ve watched a guy go a little too heavy with water and the next day it looked like his underlayment was trying to rise from the dead. Maybe just a light sweep and vacuum is enough most days? Moisture’s sneaky, especially if you’re on OSB.
I’m with you on the moisture thing—OSB just loves to swell up if you even look at it wrong. I usually stick to a shop vac and maybe a microfiber cloth for stubborn dust, but I’ve never used tack cloths on subfloors. Do folks actually see a difference with those, or is it mostly peace of mind? And what about those sticky rollers—anyone try those instead? Just seems like there’s always one more gadget someone swears by...
-
“I usually stick to a shop vac and maybe a microfiber cloth for stubborn dust, but I’ve never used tack cloths on subfloors. Do folks actually see a difference with those, or is it mostly peace of mind?”
- Shop vac is my go-to too—gets most of the junk up fast.
- Tack cloths? Honestly, I tried them once. Didn’t notice a huge difference on OSB, maybe a bit less fine dust but not worth the hassle for big areas.
- Sticky rollers seem more for finish work, like cabinets or paint prep. Never seen anyone use them on a deck.
- Biggest thing for me: make sure it’s bone dry before underlayment. Even a little moisture and you’re asking for trouble down the line.
- If you’re worried about dust, a quick leaf blower pass can help, but watch out for neighbors’ yards...