Table of Contents
What should I put under my plywood floor?
Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials, such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles.
Does it matter which way you lay plywood?
Ply should always be laid with the grain running across the joists, not along the joist, to maximise the strength. Laying them length ways down a joist will cause them to crack along the grain which could end up in serious injury and or damage. The smaller the gap between joists the stronger the board will be.
How should plywood subflooring not lay?
1. Improper spacing. To avoid buckling, subfloor panels should be spaced with a 1/8-inch gap at all edges and ends to provide room for naturally occurring expansion.
Do you need underlayment on plywood subfloor?
So do we recommend an underlayment for laminate flooring on plywood? Yes, underlayment provides compression, sound absorption and insulation value. The moisture protection isn’t really a concern unless it is above a crawl space.
How thick should plywood be for flooring?
Some experts suggest that 15/32-inch plywood should be standard if the underlying floor joists are spaced 16 inches apart or less, but slightly thicker 3/4-inch plywood should be used for joists spaced further apart.
Does plywood need expansion gap?
APA recommends a 1/8-inch space between panel edge and end joints. Plywood and oriented strand board (OSB), like all wood products, will expand or shrink slightly with changes in moisture content. If the wood structural panels are tightly butted, there is no room for expansion and buckling can occur.
Do you nail or screw subfloor?
Ideally, nail down your subfloor using corrosion-resistant nails that will securely hold it in place and last a long time. Screws are a great alternative that you can easily remove, but they are not as sturdy. Screws are superior in terms of reducing floor squeaks, but the installation is slower.
How thick should plywood subfloor be?
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.
Should you glue down plywood underlayment?
No, you should not glue down your underlayment. Underlayment is is a floating material, the same as your laminate flooring. In most cases, you should not glue or nail your underlayment down. You should always check with the installation instructions of the underlayment for proper installation instructions first.
How do you screw down a subfloor?
A thicker subfloor takes a 3-inch screw. Use a heavy-duty drill to drive Phillips head wood screws through the subfloor into the floor joists. Drive the screws approximately 8 inches apart. To make the job easier for you and the drill, we suggest that you pre-drill holes before screwing the subfloor down.
Do you have to use tongue and groove plywood for subfloor?
For subflooring, you use tongue and groove plywood. The tongue and groove are only along the 8 foot edges. On the four foot edges, your seams will fall on joist tops, so no need for tongue and groove.
Do I need a moisture barrier on wood subfloor?
Do I need a vapor barrier for hardwood floors?” The answer is YES! Moisture can destroy hardwood flooring. It causes cupping, warping, and even mildew if not treated. You must install a moisture barrier to protect your flooring from water wicking up from below.
Is a moisture barrier necessary for wood floors?
If you’re planning to nail down your hardwood floors, a moisture barrier is recommended. If you are installing an floating engineered hardwood flooring, you can use Aquabar underlayment to help control moisture.
What goes on top of subfloor?
Underlayment: Some types of flooring can be installed directly on top of the subfloor, such as vinyl flooring. Other types need a middle layer, called underlayment, such as laminate,carpet and tile.
Can you put plywood over subfloor?
To add an extra layer of plywood over a subfloor, you will need to clean the floor to ensure there is no dirt and grime. After cleaning, you will install the plywood over the subfloor one sheet at a time. However, you need to make sure the plywood seams are over the subfloor so that it provides adequate stability.
What screws to use on subfloor?
Most construction experts use 3-inch steel screws for plywood subfloors. To find out which length of screw you’ll need, you first have to know how thick the flooring is. You’ll want the screw to go about an inch past the plywood into the joist or underlying layer beneath it.
How do you fill gaps in plywood subfloor?
Fill Plywood Subfloor Gaps An effective strategy for filling large gaps is to mix patching compound to a stiff, mortar-like consistency, trowel it into the plywood subfloor gaps and wait for it to stiffen before troweling it smooth. Some sanding may be needed when it sets completely.
How often do you screw subfloor?
install tile unless it is screwed every 6-8″.
How is plywood installed?
Plywood underlayment should be installed only on a dry subfloor. Inspect the subfloor for evenness along joints and flatness between joists. When necessary, sand the subfloor near joints; install extra blocking and re-fasten the subfloor to flatten uneven areas.
Is it better to use OSB or plywood for subfloor?
The National Tile Contractors Association and the Resilient Floor Covering Institute both recommend plywood for subflooring and underlayment, because it doesn’t have the risk of swollen edges that OSB does. Plywood also has a slight advantage in stiffness, which means that subflooring panels need not be quite as thick.
Should I put screws in my subfloor?
The fastener you choose will certainly play a part in whether your floor squeaks or not. Screws, if driven properly, prevent creaking floors. A screw firmly holds the subfloor in place, which ensures a squeak-less floor for years to come.
