What kind of wood panel is this?

[sylus]

Agree hardboard, normally used in big sheets on floors as a cheap lazy fix to level floors rather than deal with it properly

 

[twain]

Agree hardboard, normally used in big sheets on floors as a cheap lazy fix to level floors rather than deal with it properly

that soundsabout right.

the chap who sold the flat to us turned it round fairly quickly.

quick and cheap was his motto i think....

there is no way i'm going to tear the floors up and redo it, we aren't living here for long.

so will need to make sure its sealed up as best as possible. is there some sort of coating i can apply that can soak in and create some sort of water repellency??

 

[nodding dog]

You'll have to stick the hardboard down with something so you might as well use waterproof PVA.

If you completely cover the top, bottom and edges then the hardboard should be reasonably waterproof.

 

[alanf]

Normally it's nailed/pinned down, if your just going to stick it under the washing machine so you can tile under it do as the above poster suggest and seal it before you lay the tiles, the only problem being that if it does leak! The rest of the floor will possible lift and buckle and that piece wont