Making sure the deck’s ready for underlayment - what’s your process?

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...

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“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...