Can you put a 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.
Can I put plywood over subfloor?
Underlayment can also help protect the finished flooring from moisture, mold, and mildew. Plywood is a great underlayment to install over a subfloor. It is strong and durable and often very smooth without a lot of imperfections or knots.
Can you have two layers of subfloor?
AdvanTech® may be installed in 2-layers if the first layer is installed like a subfloor and the second layer is installed like an underlayment. Prior to installing the second layer, the first layer must be fully installed over the floor framing and the structure needs to be dried-in.
How do I add another layer of plywood to a subfloor?
- Step 1: Remove Old Flooring. It may seem obvious, but the first step to adding a second layer to your subfloor is to remove the old flooring. …
- Step 2: Remove Underlayment. …
- Step 3: Decide on Plywood. …
- Step 4: Acclimate Plywood. …
- Step 5: Install Plywood. …
- Step 6: Keep in Mind.
- Wood underfloors will most likely have to be ripped up and a new one installed to ensure consistency.
- You can also use a flooring underlayment which can smoothen up any remaining peaks and valleys in the subfloor.
How many layers of plywood do you need for a subfloor?
If you are using plywood for your subfloor, you should use a minimum of one layer that is between ¾” and ⅝” thick. This thickness will suffice for most floors; however, codes will vary and a second layer is a good idea if your floor covering is going to be a heavy material like ceramic tiles or natural stone.
How do you fix uneven plywood subfloor?
What can I do with an uneven subfloor?
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 plywood should I 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.
Can you lay a wooden floor on top of a wooden floor?
Hardwood flooring boards (either solid wood flooring or engineered wood flooring) can be fitted onto existing wooden floor boards. The hardwood flooring should run perpendicular to the existing floor boards to provide maximum strength and stability.
Can you tile 1/2 plywood?
While I prefer using 1/2” cement backer board over a plywood subfloor, you may be able to get by with 1/4” backer board instead. Even if you use a waterproof underlayment membrane, the floor will still be either 1/4″ or 1/2” higher than the subfloor, plus the thickness of the tile and adhesive.
Is it better to use OSB or plywood for subfloor?
OSB has a lower resale value than plywood due to its lower strength. For this reason, few homeowners prefer OSB in their homes. Apart from costs, plywood is superior in all the other areas, such as the strength of the structure. For this reason, it’s a superior material for use on the subfloor.
How do you attach plywood underlayment to subfloor?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Stand on each panel during fastening to ensure full contact with the subfloor fasten. The 8-foot edge two inches on Center. And a half inch from the panel edge.
Should plywood underlayment be glued to subfloor?
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.
What side of the plywood goes up?
Install plywood underlayment smooth side up. To avoid damage to the surface, install underlayment immediately before laying the finish flooring.
How thick should a 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. There are several factors that determine what subfloor thickness is optimal for added benefits like insulation.
Is it better to 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 be to walk on?
The thinner plywood is acceptable when the joist spacing is 16 inches. If you plan to finish the floor in the attic and turn the room into a living space, however, you should always use 3/4-inch plywood. Thinner plywood can flex when you walk on it — even with 16-inch spacing — and this will damage the flooring.
What are 3 common subfloor materials?
Common Subfloor Materials. There are four primary materials used as subfloor: plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), concrete, and high-performance panels. There are other subfloors materials out there, but they are used in more niche situations. The construction industry is constantly evolving.
What is the strongest subfloor?
Best for Durability and Maintenance: Plywood
As subfloor materials, both plywood and OSB should last as long as the house itself if the subfloor has been properly installed. There is no maintenance required, except to keep the subfloor as dry as possible.
Can you use plywood as flooring?
As a finished flooring
(And yes, you can have plywood flooring over a plywood subfloor.) You can cut plywood into planks or special shapes and lay them in whatever pattern you prefer. Some plywood flooring designs even mimic traditional wood parquet floors or mosaics.
