In any case if you have not done it before it might be sensible to call for a professional and ask him/her advise. If at all possible, aim to sand your existing planks if they are showing significant signs of old glue or materials that need to be removed. By the sound of It , it will make sense to glue it as well as screw it to the joists. I understand that I should install a plywood layer over the original lay in order to enable the planks to be installed lengthwise. It’s fairly easy to install plywood over subfloor, but you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to complete the job. Providing better information on softwood and hardwood. The current subfloor is 1x8 planking ran at a 45° angle. How-to install a wood subfloor over concrete . Thanks for the comment. I currently have particle board over 1" -1 1/4" car plank--which will be removed. This allows for natural expansion and contraction. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It is not recommended to go further than 16 inches unless you have checked and checked again the spanning distance. If the plywood subfloor you’re placing is 5/8 of an inch thick, you need a screw about 1 5/8 inches long. A floor underlayment is installed over a subfloor to provide a smooth surface onto which carpet, hardwood, vinyl or other finished flooring can be installed. This image has dimension 600x448 Pixel and File Size 0 KB, you can click the image above to see the large or full size photo. It is similar to other types of laminate plywoods except that the outer laminate grades are C and D which means that one side is rough and the other side is rougher. Whether you’d like to lay down a new subfloor or take on a DIY plank subfloor repair, plywood is the clear choice. One of the big considerations when installing different types of flooring in the home is getting the finished elevations to match. Hi, Our Blog’s post is generic and you will have to consider your own conditions and subfloor and “judge it” accordingly. The main difference is that OSB has much more structural integrity then particle board. When you install your vinyl on a wood subfloor, the top plywood should be a minimum of 1/4″ thick. We ran an edger (you can also use a big machine) over the seam where the plywood met the old subfloor to create a smooth transition. If you use adhesive for the underlayment, you can get away with fasteners every 8" using ring shanked nails. These subfloors must meet structural requirements. Finally, continue to cut and place the plywood until the floor has been fully covered. We are installing 12″ x 12″ porceline tile over our 1/2 inch plywood subfloor. Once that is done you will pull up the existing flooring, such as the linoleum or the carpeting. Twisting is bad in this situation as it can potentially weaken them to the point of failure. Should I use 1/2" or 5/8" plywood as a subfloor over my car plank. Plywood is one of the most common subfloors in use today. I do not want to install plywood over … Step 3: Secure your plywood pieces in place using 1-inch decking screws. Thanks, Jim. Hardwood floor is 0.75″ thick. The plywood adds stiffness and stability to the floor. These instructions apply only to preparing a plywood subfloor. With the plywood in place, install the backer board as you normally would. Similar to OSB, it is a great option for things like a subfloor or exterior sheathing. Thank you for the help. Thanks for the info. As any regular reader of this blog will know, if you’re laying a new wood floor over an old plank sub floor, there are several things you need to take into consideration. Working this way creates what is called a “slip” between the two flooring materials and is recommended. Subfloor is squeeky and I'm aware it's not suitable surface for cement board underlayment. Preparation takes into account making the right decisions when ordering your wood flooring, but also means making sure your sub floor is well prepared for receiving your new floor. Inner plys appear to be poplar with a fair number of voids and overlaps. This edge fits into the slot one the adjoining piece of plywood. Our Showroom will be available for pre-book meeting only and under COVID-19 restrictions. Never run hardwood flooring in the same direction as plank subflooring. Now, depending on the shape of the room, you may need to cut the next piece to shape. The manufacturing process uses wafers of wood that a binder presses together in order to form the finished panel. plywood to establish a flat surface and separate the two hardwood surfaces to avoid the expansion and contraction differences between the two hardwoods. Also the surface while looking smooth does have some noticeable sanding undulations that you can feel if you slide your hand over the surface. To achieve a proper vertical installation you need to first carefully install the rim joist. Hi - This is work differently from on various site and Ply. When you install your lumber joists, if they are not already installed, you want to make sure that they are installed and held vertically. Since the nails are 1.75″ long, that’s about 0.75″ of nail to dig into the plywood subfloor, which is great. OSB is commonly confused with particleboard, but the two products are very different from one another. Pine offers grain textures and knots that create an interesting look on your floor. I guess 18mm will be even better… in any case please also ask your fitter on site to check quality of joists and decide accordingly. I recommend using wood screws at nine-inch intervals. But if you have a weak subfloor that flexes up and down when walked on I would recommend adding an additional layer of 3/8" or 1/2" thick plywood underlayment, glued and screwed down over the weaker subfloor will add stability. Once your ply is neatly in place, you’ll have a great surface on which to install your new floor. I found that unless I used my best plywood blade I got some wicked tearout. Your power screwdriver is an excellent tool for this. My experience is no, too much bounce. In cases like this, the subfloor will be added during the remodeling process. Laying a New Subfloor Over Old Pine Flooring. Now, there will be times that you have to go shorter than 16 inches, but you will have to cut the plywood to accommodate a shorter length. As with old-fashioned tongue groove plank subfloor, this product features a ridge that runs along one of the plywood’s edges. Engineered or Solid Wood Flooring that is less than 1/2" thick can be installed over a plywood subfloor. Know the joist spacing of your home before installing DITRA. Take a sheet of plywood and lay it square in one corner of the work area. Inspect the subfloor for evenness along joints and flatness between joists. Another person told us to build up our floor first by placing down 5/8″ tounge and groove plywood ontop of the current plywood and then use the 1/4″ backerboard. Tips for Plywood Subfloor Installation. This also applies to joists depth. In either case, then you can install 1/2" cement board. Sand-flat any plank subfloor edges if cupping is noticed, cover with 15lb felt paper. Step 10 Then we covered the entire floor with #15 felt paper and installed hardwood flooring over the new plywood and the existing flooring. You will want to make sure that you leave at least a 1/8″ gap between the walls and the plywood sheets. Different types of plywood are made from a variety of materials, and are manufactured using a variety of processes designed to provide a finished product that’s well-suited to the intended use. ... - With a long metal straightedge, identify dips or high spots that exceed recommended tolerances for the floor you are installing ... 7.6 - Clean the plywood subfloor surface before you install the flooring. Unfortunately, we cannot help on this one. Unless you want to run your new planks perpendicular to the original boards, you have no option but to introduce a layer of ply. Structural floor on top of joists has to be at least 18mm thick overall. This is particularly important if your old sub floor has lumps and bumps in it. The first is that the sub floor planks are stable, well fixed and in reasonable condition. Vinyl flooring is usually not installed directly over the subfloor in residential applications. In addition to this, each piece of plywood will end in the center of a joist. Flooring Over Plank Subfloor Whether or not you need plywood underlayment under engineered wood flooring depends on the condition of the original subfloor. Introducing a layer of ply will stop squeaks in your floor if it is done properly (see below). Two of the most important things to bear in mind, whichever method you use are: to acclimatise your new flooring well and secondly to allow for expansion and contraction of your new flooring by leaving an expansion gap of 10-15mm around your whole room. Screw or nail this piece of plywood into place. It isn’t uncommon for this type of plywood to have defects on its surfaces, but they are often available much cheaper than A or B grade plywood. There was an addition (back bedroom and bathroom) put on when the house was refurbished shortly before Hur… The existing planks that make up your floor have strength that runs in one direction only, and it is now recognised that ideally, subfloors should have strength that runs in both directions. If so, go ahead and measure and cut that piece so that it is a sure fit. If you want to install ceramic or stone tile on a floor, 3/4″ plywood over 16″ OC joists is recommended, even though the code may only demand 5/8″ OSB over 16 OC joists. Use subfloor adhesive, and screw 8" at edges, 12" in field. For low profile hardwood flooring a 3/8" plywood installed over the planking will make for a flatter subfloor surface to install these floors over… Right now, I have 3/4 TG hardwood, which is not in the best shape, over a 2.5" wide x 3/4" inch think plank subfloor, which runs perpendicular to the joists (2x10, 16 oc). The inner plys are pretty sloppy and they depend on sanding to get it even enough for the final veneer which is whisper thin and very easy to chip an edge off if handled carelessly. theplywood.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater, The Ultimate Guide to Sealing Laminate Floors, Exterior Walls Construction: The Start-to-Finish Guide, The Uses of and Challenges in Cutting Formica, The Ultimate Guide to DIY Birdhouse Design, Aquarium Cabinetry: A DIY Guide to Custom Aquarium Stands, The Ultimate Guide to Building a Bat House, The Ultimate Guide to Building a Portable Generator Enclosure, How to Remove and Replace Your Load Bearing Wall, Drying Wood in the Oven: The Ultimate How-To Guide, How to Cut a Groove or Channel on Wood Without a Router. For most subfloors, you will need to add an extra layer of wood. On the 3/4" subfloor, you have the right idea. Over 100 years old, it was made by craftsmen who really knew how to build things to last. Install plywood underlayment smooth side up. In order to ensure that the plywood starts at the edge of the house, the first joist will have to be installed 16 inches on center from the house edge. If you’re nailing at a 45-degree angle, this would be a total of ~1″ before you get to the plywood (0.75″ x sqrt(2)). You have to do this to ensure that they don’t end up twisting. You may also like. Install a layer of at least ½” or preferably 5/8” ply over the existing planks. Take a sheet of plywood and lay it square in one corner of the work area. you must lay the new boards perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to the old ones. Suggested products. The X in CDX indicates that the plywood is designed to withstand some exposure to the elements. 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