How thick should a stair subfloor be?

While ¾” thick plywood or OSB is considered sufficiently thick for subfloors, it is not uncommon to use a thicker material for the stair treads. One inch of total plywood thickness is ideal and can be made from two layers of ½” plywood, bonded together.

Can you walk on subfloors?





Subflooring is sturdy and strong, but definitely not pleasing to look at or walk on.

What is the purpose of subfloors?

A subfloor is a structure attached to your floor joists which provides support for your finish (surface) flooring. Used alone, most finish flooring materials are not strong enough for the dead weight of furniture, cabinetry, appliances and other household objects plus the live weight of people and pets.

How do you replace subfloor on stairs?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you have any damaged subfloor this is the time to replace it if not then you can start by cutting the nosing off so that you have a flat profile on the front riser.

Is plywood strong enough for stairs?

On a tall staircase, it is possible to work one’s way up, installing riser, tread, riser, tread, all the way to the top. While ¾” thick plywood or OSB is considered sufficiently thick for subfloors, it is not uncommon to use a thicker material for the stair treads.

What are the rules for laying out stairs?





In my mind, though, the ideal stair rise-run is 7 1/4 by 10 inches. If you have to deviate from this, use the following rules of thumb: Unit rise times unit run (in inches) should equal 72 to 75. Two rises plus one run should equal 24 to 25 inches.

How long do subfloors last?

20 to 30 years

“Adequately protected from moisture, most subfloor materials can be expected to last for the lifespan of the home.” However, if the subfloor is consistently exposed to moisture, you may need to replace it after 20 to 30 years or sooner.

Can you live with just subfloor?

Well-constructed subflooring is built to withstand the weight of interior walls, a roof, household furniture, finished flooring, and people. However, wood subflooring isn’t designed to accommodate daily wear-and-tear, moisture or soiling. Concrete subflooring is generally durable enough to withstand daily use.

Is subfloor considered structural?



The purpose of a subfloor is that it offers a structurally sound flat surface to hold up the underlayment and finish floor. The best material for a subfloor is typically plywood for its strength.

How much does it cost to replace a subfloor?

Cost to Repair Subfloor*

1 2
Subfloor repair, entire room $300 – $400
Subfloor replacement, small area $400 – $500
Subfloor replacement, entire room $570 – $720
*Prices based on a 500-square-foot room for entire room, 100-square-feet for small area

Can I put new subfloor over old subfloor?

Install a layer of at least ½” or preferably 5/8” ply over the existing planks. This is particularly important if your old sub floor has lumps and bumps in it. If you don’t respect this thickness of ply, then you’re highly likely to see rises and falls in your new flooring.

How do you repair a rotted subfloor?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Problem but now it's time to get to work on the actual rotten floor. There's two ways that we can repair this floor. We could patch the existing hole with plywood.

How thick should plywood be for stairs?

The thickness of your plywood stair treads should be anywhere from 1” to 1 ½” in thickness. It’s important to invest in quality plywood. As a rule of thumb, always remember that the fewer stairway stringers you use, the thicker you want your stair treads to be.

How thick should wood be for stairs?

Wood is the most common stair tread and must be at least one-inch thick on stairs supported by risers. Wood must be at least one-and-a-half inches thick when used with open risers. Building code states that stair treads must be thick enough to support a person going up or down the stairs.

What type of wood is used for interior stairs?

Pine: Southern Yellow Pine is the most common material used to make stairs because of its strength and cost.

Can I use 2×10 for stair treads?



It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.

Which flooring is best for stairs?

Ceramic is the most common and recommended tile material for stair risers as it’s much more durable than porcelain or glass. One thing to note is that tiles are much heavier than other materials on this list, creating limits as to where tile stairs can be installed in your home.

What is the cheapest wood for stairs?

Fir wood

Fir wood: this is a soft wood and the cheapest wood we can recommend to build a staircase.

Should I use oak or pine for stair treads?



While Pine is softer than Oak and other hardwoods, Pine is nevertheless one of the best woods for stair treads.

Do hardwood stairs add value?

As CNN reported, hardwood floors can also increase home value by 3-5%. This makes them a very attractive prospect for anyone looking to sell their house in the near future. However, even if you don’t plan on moving any time soon, hardwood floors may still be a good investment.