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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 do you fill gaps in plywood?
While it’s best to fill any voids prior to attaching pieces of plywood together, you can fill voids between plywood sheets with wood filler. Combine wood filler with some of the sawdust in a small container. Fill voids on the outside layer of plywood by inserting enough putty to cover the void.
Should subfloor have gaps?
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. Tongue-and-groove edges on many premium floor panels, such as Weyerhaeuser’s Edge Gold® OSB panels, are designed to self-gap.
Can you use wood filler on subfloor?
You can simply use a putty type of wood filler. Or anything to prevent the laminate from dipping. I’ve seen guys use construction adhesive like PL to repair small defects in the subfloor.
Should I caulk gaps in subfloor?
This may be due to a sagging subfloor, which is common in older homes, or even expansion of the structure due to climate conditions. An easy way to remedy this is to fill the gap between the wall and subfloor with caulk. The caulking should be rated for moisture and mildew resistance.
How do you hide seams in plywood?
Sand down the plywood, particularly around the edges where the pieces meet at the seams. Go over the entire surface with medium-grade sandpaper in a circular motion. Continue until all of the seams have been sanded down and the surface is smooth throughout.
How do you seal seams in plywood?
How to Seal Plywood Seams Cut the tip off of a tube of elastomeric caulk using a utility knife. Insert the tube into a caulking gun and pull the trigger until you see caulk come out of the nozzle. Squirt a 3/8-inch bead of caulk along the seams of the plywood. Wait 24 hours.
Does plywood flooring need an expansion gap?
Nothing to add, except expansion gap is not as crucial on ply as it is cross-bonded and is not as susceptible to expanding/contracting as natural grain wood. Not only that, but fixing down prevents this too. Definitely no gaps between sheets.
How do you attach a Luan to a subfloor?
Start in one corner of the room and lay a full sheet of luan perpendicular to the direction of the subfloor panels. Leave a 1/16 inch gap between the walls and the luan panel. Use a staple gun to insert 1/4-inch crown staples every 6 inches across the plane of the luan panel and every 2 inches along the edges.
Does plywood subfloor expand?
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.
How do you fill a low spot subfloor?
Use an underlayment, floor leveler or floor patch product to fix low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. An underlayment is a thin layer of material sandwiched between two other materials. It’s used to help insulate, absorb sound and reduce wear on your floor. It can also serve as a vapor barrier.
Can you use wood filler on plywood?
Wood fillers are helpful because they allow you to repair some of your most valuable wooden items. For example, you use them to repair nail holes, dents, scratches, cracks, and even exposed edges in some plywood products.
What can I use instead of wood filler?
To make a versatile wood filler for free, just grab a paper plate and combine Elmer’s or any other wood glue with sawdust.
Can you tape plywood seams?
Expert Insight. Sometimes you can cover plywood with joint compound and paper drywall tape without causing future problems. But joint compound is designed to adhere to drywall, not wood, so avoid applying joint compound over wood if possible.
Does plywood underlayment need gaps?
When installed with staples, the underlayment sheets are fastened every 2 inches along the edges of the sheet and every 4 inches in the field area. Sheets can be butted together (just touching, not forced tightly together) or they can be gapped about 1/8 inch, or so.
What type of plywood is best for subfloor?
The recommended thickness of the plywood subfloor is governed by the spacing of the joists. 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.
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.
