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 thickness plywood should I use 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 kind of plywood do you use for subflooring?

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 use 1/2 inch plywood flooring?

Can I use 1/2 inch plywood for flooring? – Quora. Sure, I do it all the time in sheds, or other areas where you don’t expect to walk through a lot. It usually requires the supporting joists be placed at 8 or 12 inches on center (apart).

What is the minimum floor thickness?

Minimum flooring thickness:- minimum flooring thickness is restricted to 4 inch with good grade of concrete and even grade of reinforcement inside it.

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.

Is 12mm plywood OK for flooring?

Due to our 12mm Hardwood Plywood being a structural product – it can be used in sheds for roofing and flooring too. An interesting application for 12mm Ply is Plywood pegboards – a quirky addition to any home, plus they’re super easy to build.

What size screws 3/4 plywood subfloor?

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.

Can you use 1/4 inch plywood flooring?

Most underlayment-approved plywood is at least 11/32 inches, the standard recommendation. Some professionals, however, will use plywood as thin as 1/4 inch for resilient flooring if the subfloor is in particularly good condition.

What thickness OSB should be used for flooring?

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.

Article first time published on

Is it OK to use treated plywood for subfloor?

There’s no need to worry about making treated wood safer that is completely covered in other materials and hidden from access, such as subflooring. Pressure treated wood doesn’t release any gases or particulates that could harm you and your family.

What goes on top of subfloor?

Underlayment: Some types of flooring can be installed directly on top of the subfloor, such as vinyl flooring. Other types need a middle layer, called underlayment, such as laminate,carpet and tile.

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 thick is a floor slab?

Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks.

How thick should a second floor be?

Ideally, your second-story concrete flooring should be between three and four inches thick. Like we covered above, the thickness of second-floor concrete will vary depending on your home’s structural engineering, but in general, it shouldn’t need to be more than four inches thick.

How thick is a floor finish?

Hardwood Flooring For hardwood finish flooring, which average about 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch in thickness, 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch-thick plywood is the preferred subfloor, though there are a variety of grades designed for specific applications.

Is 18mm thick enough for flooring?

With the thickness of the floor being at least 18mm, you can be sure it is stable enough to go over joists. Fitting over joists can add extra pressure to your hardwood floor, but structural wood has the correct load bearing properties to cope with this.

Is 18mm plywood OK for flooring?

Plywood is the desired material for use in domestic flooring, but this particular board is extremely multi purpose. …

What is thinnest plywood you can get?

The thinnest plywood on the market ranges all the way down to 2mm thick (just over 1/16 inch). These are obviously specialty plywood products, manufactured for special applications which can’t be accomplished by any other product on the market, whether plywood or some other material.

Do you 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.

Do you need tongue and groove for subfloor?

For subflooring, you use tongue and groove plywood. The tongue and groove are only along the 8 foot edges. On the four foot edges, your seams will fall on joist tops, so no need for tongue and groove.

How thick do floor joists need to be?

When choosing a joist spacing, check that your floorboards (or sheets) are strong enough to span over the width chosen. As a general rule – floorboards should be a minimum 16mm thick for joist centres up to 500mm and 19mm minimum for centres up to 600mm.

What is the difference between underlayment and plywood?

Often, the terms “subfloor” and “underlayment” are used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, the subfloor is the thick, structural layer that rests directly on the floor joists, the structural ribs of a floor frame. Underlayment is a thinner material that lies over the subfloor. … Plywood is only one type of underlayment.

Is OSB good for subfloor?

Some builders prefer OSB over plywood for flooring because the surface, when new, is always clean, flat, and knot-free. Since OSB is so dense, it’s a good soundproofing product. OSB is a more consistent product than plywood or other types of material for subfloor: every sheet is the same.

Should I glue down my 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.

Can I use drywall screws for subfloor?

Whatever you do, don’t use drywall screws for the subfloor. … Under the stress of regular wear and tear, drywall screw heads usually snap off if they are employed in the subfloor. It’s better to use screws whose features are specifically engineered to work for securing subfloor plywood in place.

How far apart should screws be on underlayment?

When installing subfloors, you will want to space the screws every 6-8 inches apart. This will ensure that the subfloors are stable and secure. It also means that no one screw is under too much pressure.

Which is stronger OSB or plywood?

OSB and plywood offer similar (and sufficient) performance in terms of strength and functionality, though plywood is about 7% stronger. … Plywood will absorb moisture quicker than OSB, but consequently it will also dry quicker.

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.

Why is treated lumber cheaper than untreated?

Affordability. Pressure-treated wood is notably cheaper than cedar, redwood, and other types of wood. And, because of its durability, you’re much less likely to experience a need for costly repairs in the future. It is a great choice for those operating on a smaller budget.

Is Spruce plywood good for subfloor?

All wood subfloors must meet national and local building code guidelines. 1) PLYWOOD: Use only American Plywood Association (APA) underlayment grade plywood, minimum ¼”thickness. … Manufacturer-certified poplar, birch and spruce plywood underlayment with a fully sanded face and exterior glue can also be used.