What Plywood 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.

What type of plywood is used for flooring?

Interior plywood is ideal for rooms not exposed to moisture, such as bedrooms, and makes a good subfloor for carpeting, tiles, vinyl, engineered wood laminate flooring and hardwood flooring. Exterior plywood is a better choice for bathrooms, kitchens and any other rooms exposed to water and moisture.

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.

What type of plywood do you use for subfloor?

Standard plywood can be used for subfloors, but a better material is 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring. The tongue-and-groove edges interlock to resist movement along the panel edges and create an overall stiffer floor.

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 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.

Can I use plywood for flooring?

Interior plywood is designed for rooms that aren’t exposed to much moisture. They make a good subfloor for carpeting, tiles, vinyl, engineered wood laminate flooring and hardwood flooring. Almost every room of the house uses interior grade plywood including kitchens and baths.

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 size screws 3/4 plywood subfloor?

The 3/4-inch-thick subfloor takes a 2-inch screw. 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.

What type of wood is used for flooring?

The best hardwood floors are made with wood species that are readily available and — you guessed it — very hard. Oak flooring, maple flooring and cherry flooring are all good choices. Other species include bamboo (which is actually a grass), walnut, ash and mahogany.

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.

Is marine plywood good for flooring?

While mainly used for building fishing boats or bancas, marine plywood is also standard material for building houses and making furniture. It is ideal for wall and ceiling panels, and as base for asphalt shingle roofing and wooden flooring. Marine plywood is thicker, harder and sturdier than ordinary plywood.

Is 18mm plywood good 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 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 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.

Which is stronger OSB or plywood?

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.

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.

How much does a 4×8 sheet of plywood cost?

How much does plywood cost? Type Thickness Average Price (4×8) Treated 3/8 $40 to $50 Treated 1/2 $50 to $65 Treated 3/4 $60 to $75 Hardwood (birch or oak) 1/4 $20 to $40.

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.