Table of Contents
Is subfloor considered structural?
Typically made of plywood or OSB and ranging in thickness from 19/32″ to 1 1/8″ thick, the subfloor is truly structural, second only to joists in this respect. Subfloor holds up all of the above layers of flooring, as well as everything in your house, including people, dogs, cats, pianos, furniture.
What are the requirements for subflooring?
The minimum thickness of plywood for subflooring is about 5/8 inch. Since it does not hold fasteners as well as plywood, OSB must be a little thicker, or at least 23/32 inch. There are several factors that determine what subfloor thickness is optimal for added benefits like insulation.
Do you install subfloor before framing?
If you use a product like DriCore for the subfloor, they even explicitly recommend you frame on top of their subfloor product. They do, however, recommend you screw the framing through the subfloor into the concrete with something like 3″ Tapcons spaced every 4 ft through the bottom sill of the framing.
Are floor joists considered structural?
Floor joists are structural members used in the framing of a floor structure to support a space from beam to beam.
Can you use subfloor as your floor?
Concrete subflooring is acceptable as regular flooring, as long as it’s in a moisture-proof environment. Consider the long-term effects of leaving your subflooring exposed.
Are squeaky floors a structural problem?
Are squeaky floors a structural problem? There’s no need to panic. In real life, a creak or squeak is no big deal—that is, they don’t signal structural damage, like termites, that could cause your floor or joist to collapse.
What is code for subflooring?
For joist spans 19.2–24 inches, NWFA “Installation Guidelines” recommend a minimum panel thickness of 7⁄8-inch OSB or plywood; the minimum building code (which most builders build to) is 23⁄32-inch OSB or plywood.
Do you need subfloor under hardwood?
Solid hardwood floors should not be installed below grade, or below the ground outside. A wood subfloor should be OSB or plywood of 3/4″ or thicker for a hardwood floor installation. Particle board and chipboard are unacceptable for solid hardwood installations, but may be used in an engineered flooring install.
How thick do floor joists need to be?
When choosing a joist spacing, check that your floorboards (or sheets) are strong enough to span over the width chosen. As a general rule – floorboards should be a minimum 16mm thick for joist centres up to 500mm and 19mm minimum for centres up to 600mm.
Do walls go on subfloor?
The subfloor, comprised of large sheets of tongue-and-groove plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), installs directly to the joists or trusses to form the floor base. Only when the subfloor is complete, does the contractor start framing the interior and exterior walls, which are on top of the subfloor.
Do walls sit on subfloor?
It is usually an 8-foot-long, 2×4 piece. Wall studs are nailed vertically to the bottom wall plate and the wall plate itself is nailed (downward) into the subfloor, with nails even extending into the joist. All items except for the underlayment and floor covering rest under and are nailed to the bottom wall plate.
Should I build walls or floor first?
Install flooring before you work on your walls because it’s easy to damage paint and other wall materials. Carpet rolls are long and bulky so you risk scraping and scratching your freshly painted, textured or wallpapered walls as you lay the carpet.
How important is it to stagger subfloor?
Staggering the joints makes the overall surface stronger and less vulnerable to buckling and gapping. It’s best if the stagger is random, especially when you’re laying flooring.
How is the second floor of a house supported?
With a second story, you have to build it with larger lumber to support the second floor. While first-floor supports are needed to account for the additional weight of a second floor, the walls are pretty much the same as those of a single-story home.
What is the purpose of a subfloor?
The subfloor is the bottom most structure of the floor. It provides a flat and stable surface and supports the actual floor. Underlayment is different from the subfloor in that it rests between the subfloor and the actual floor.
Is it bad to walk on subfloor?
Subfloor: The subfloor is installed across the joists. It is a flat structure that can be made from a number of different materials (we’ll discuss the types of subflooring materials next). Subflooring is sturdy and strong, but definitely not pleasing to look at or walk on.
Is pine OK for subfloor?
Yes, you can use pine subfloors as primary flooring. In many older houses, the pine subfloor was the only floor and it held up well. Uncovered pine subflooring appeals to recycling enthusiasts as well as fans of distressed wood.
What do you put between subfloor and underlayment?
Very often, particularly in a below-grade installation on a concrete basement floor, a vapor barrier is recommended in addition to the underlayment. That vapor barrier would go between the subfloor and the underlayment.
How do I find floor joists?
Tap the floor with a hammer and listen for a “thud” sound. Begin at a corner and tap the subfloor. A hollow sound will indicate space, but a “thud” sound will indicate the presence of a floor joist. Once you locate the first two joists, measure the distance between them to determine how wide they are separated.
How do you stop floor joists creaking?
Here are 7 ways you can end the noise without spending a lot of money. Put a Shim into the Gap. Nail a Piece of Wood Along a Warped Joist. Put Wood Blocks Between Noisy Joists. Use Construction Adhesive to Fill Long Gaps. Screw the Subfloor to the Finished Floor. Floorboard Lubricants. Fix the Squeak from Above.
What would cause a hump in the floor?
When a floor joist or joists are too long and extend past the center beam, they can cause a hump in the floor. When a joist sags, the end that is past the center beam will be pushed up in an action similar to a teeter-totter. It’s the end of the joist being pushed up that causes the hump.
