Question: What Kind Of Plywood For Floors

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 type of plywood is used for flooring?

CDX plywood is the most popular type of traditional plywood. It’s made with a rough outer layer that typically grades C, D or X. Almost all subfloor plywood is some type of CDX. There’s no reason to buy high grade finished plywood for use as a subfloor if your just going to cover it up with finished flooring.

How thick should plywood be for flooring?

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.

Is 18mm plywood OK for flooring?

Plywood is the desired material for use in domestic flooring, but this particular board is extremely multi purpose. These boards can be used in a number of ways, including site hoarding, rood decking and even vehicle body work.

Is 12mm plywood OK for flooring?

The cross-graining technique used in our 12mm ply improves strength, stability and prevents warping, making it excellent for bath panelling, wall lining floors and roofs.

What thickness OSB should be used for flooring?

Wood Products For decades, 23/32″-thick OSB has been the most commonly used thickness of OSB subflooring. But a simple switch to 7/8″ panels offers several advantages for accommodating a home’s energy efficiency and for ensuring the performance of finish materials and the overall feel of the floor.

Is it OK to use OSB for subfloor?

Most local codes allow OSB to be used for subflooring. It’s always best to check with your local permitting office before using OSB for your subfloor. One advantage that OSB has over plywood is its larger formatting. For plywood, 8-foot and 10-foot long sheets of plywood are standard.

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.

What is the best material to use for a subfloor?

Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.

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.

What is CDX plywood?

CDX Plywood is used primarily by contractors to build exterior walls and roofs. CDX plywood has one side veneer grade “C” and one side veneer grade “D”. The two are bonded together with glue which can withstand a little moisture. The APA would recognize CDX Grade Plywood as C-D Exposure 1 plywood.

Does flooring need structural plywood?

To put it simply, anything you can find where the building code is specifying plywood materials and material thicknesses, requires structural plywood, especially if these materials can end up being exposed to rainfall before the home is dried-in. This includes flooring, wall sheathing and roof sheathing.

Can you use 18mm OSB as flooring?

OSB tongue and groove 18mm boards are suitable and widely used in structural (manufactured in accordance with EN 13986) and interior applications, such as: Load bearing roofing & flooring applications. Hoarding. Wall sheathing.

Is 9mm ply OK for flooring?

9mm ply is well known as a staple product for wall sheathing, loft flooring and general construction. 9mm Plywood can also be used as an alternative to MDF for wall panelling.

Can you use 9mm ply for flooring?

An extremely versatile panel of high grade and quality, which, like our 5.5mm version, can be used for flooring applications – but where extra thicknesses is required. With its thick top/reverse veneers being 1.3mm (before sanding), this plywood is ideal for furniture, joinery and manufacturing where precision is key.

Is 18mm plywood strong?

Hardwood Plywood Sheet – 18mm x 1220mm x 2440mm Plywood is a strong and durable product and as such can be used in both interior and exterior applications.

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.

Is OSB cheaper than plywood?

OSB is less expensive than plywood. To build a typical 2,400-square foot home, OSB may cost $700 less than plywood. OSB is considered by many to be a “green” building material because it can be made from smaller-diameter trees, such as poplars, that are often farmed.

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.

Which is better plywood or OSB board?

Osb is stronger than plywood in shear. Shear values, through its thickness, are about 2 times greater than plywood. This is one of the reasons osb is used for webs of wooden I-joists.

Is pine plywood good 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.