What should I put between plywood and 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.

Should you fill gaps in plywood subfloor?





Fill Plywood Subfloor Gaps



You don’t have any control over a subfloor that you just uncovered by removing carpeting or some other flooring, however, and it’s important to fill existing gaps to guarantee thermal and moisture isolation and protect your new flooring.

How do you insulate a plywood floor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And is much more resistant to swelling if it gets wet. For my 16 inch joist spacing. I needed 18 millimeter 3/4 inch thick plywood.

How do you insulate a subfloor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Once the insulation is installed use metal insulation hangers or nylon straps to hold it in place. It is important that the insulation stay in contact with the subfloor above to work properly.

Is it OK to have gaps in subfloor?

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.

What do you put between subfloor and underlayment?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: I prefer to do 3/4 inch plywood because it adds strength.

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.

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.

What is the best insulation for subfloor?

As the only insulation approved by FEMA, closed cell is the optimal choice to effectively insulate subfloors in flood zones. Not only is it waterproof, it also increases the strength of the building to which it is applied.

Can you insulate over plywood?



When you need to insulate plywood sheets, stay away from common fiberglass batt insulation. There’s no easy way to make this insulation stick to the plywood; it’s designed to fit snugly between studs. Glue won’t stick well, and screws compress the insulation and lower its efficiency.

What is the minimum thickness for floor insulation?

Building Regulations



would require at least 70 mm of high-performance foam insulation, or 150 mm of mineral wool, (although this will vary depending on floor type, construction, shape and size).

Do I need 2 layers of subfloor?

That’s the usual approach. Almost no one puts down double-thick subfloor in residential applications (for cost and handling reasons), and both layers need to be fastened to joists. Only thin underlayment can be fastened just to the subfloor.

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.

Should I glue plywood to subfloor?

The answer: Glue. Although using a subfloor adhesive (or subfloor glue) is not required by code, it is a standard practice that can help prevent floor squeaks by reducing the chance for movement at the panel-to-joist connection. A quality subfloor adhesive will also increase the overall stiffness of the floor.

Should 1/4 underlayment be glued down?

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.

Can you use Liquid Nails on subfloor?

Liquid Nails LN-602 Subfloor and Deck Construction Adhesive is the perfect adhesive for subfloors, flooring and decking. It can be used inside or outside and all the extreme weather. LN-602 is perfect for bonding building materials such as wafer board, plywood, lumber, etc. and also helps with the squeaking boards.

What screws should I use for plywood subfloor?



Because of their structure, screws can penetrate plywood more easily and improve the connection, whereas nails can weaken the plywood. The main categories of screws designed for subfloors include galvanized screws, steel screws and cement board screws.

What size screws 3/4 plywood subfloor?

Steel Screws



The proper steel screw sizes for securing 3/4-inch plywood to the floor joists are #8, #10 and #12 screws. The number refers to the thickness of the screw. Each is available in lengths from 1 1/4 to 3 inches. Typically, the 3-inch variety is used to secure plywood subfloors.

What size plywood is best for subfloor?

The spacing of the joists governs the recommended thickness of the plywood subfloor. Some experts suggest that 15/32-inch plywood should be standard if the underlying floor joists are spaced 16 inches apart or less, but you should use slightly thicker 3/4-inch plywood for joists spaced further apart.