Wood – Hardwood Flooring Direction on Older Subfloor

The 45 degree decking is the primary sub-floor. It's a technique that was widely used in the past, but has subsequently been replaced with simply dropping sheets of plywood down.

In answer to your questions:

1) You can glue and screw to the sub-floor.

2) In this case, it doesn't matter. The sub-floor is carrying the load diagonally. However, if there were no sub-floor, then you would want to go perpendicular. See this discussion on the subject.

3) Always - always - always level as you go. Fix the level at the soonest possible opportunity or it can be amplified by an order of magnitude.

1. Your current plywood is suitable for hardwood installation. I do not ever like to use 1/4 subfloor as it is brittle and when screwed sometimes doesn't lay flat. If I added to your subfloor I would at least put in 1/2 inch but like I said you don't need it with 16" OC. Note that a thicker sub might have benefits but at the same time you are adding weight to the joists.

2. Depends on area of country and moisture levels. CDX is fine in most places.

3. I would not try to match the current subfloor. I would do the opposite.

4. I do not ever attach additional subfloor layers to joists. When the joists swells - and they will in 80% of the world - your sub will be pulled or pushed and then you will have a screw or nail that is working its way out and possibly squeaky floors. The whole reason for the second layer is extra inflection levels. By attaching to the same thing you get the same thing just thicker.