Comments (0), Posted on 21 December 2010 at 02:35 PM in, Which floorboard thickness to select: when and why, How to financially prepare yourself for home renovation, Introduction Buying Guide for Quality Wooden Flooring, Buy one, get on free - lecol/leha maintenance products, Wooden Flooring Finish: oil or lacquer? Today most of those plants are out of business and most of the raw materials are less than 20 years old. 6629028) BA2 2PA. Additionally, if your floor has glue that's wearing out or you can just tell that this subfloor has seen better days, then you can always sand it down to remove bumps. 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. Treated Chipboard - it is made by bonding together wood particles (chips) with an adhesive under heat and pressure to form a rigid board with a relatively smooth surface. Mark the shape of the obstacle on the frayed paper and transfer this to your board. Use a. Well, I did promise a review after a year, so I am a little behind, but i’ve finally gotten around to taking some pics of the floor as it is now, 15 months after it was laid and since lived on. Ironically, the thicker plywood blocks can support lesser weights. The plywood must be exterior grade for all wet areas and it has to be installed in such a way that the joints between each layer do not line up, using what is known as a stagger pattern to keep the pieces from ever lining up. Click to see full answer Thereof, can you lay vinyl straight onto floorboards? The plywood board we used is only 5mm thick, which means that the difference in height between the hallway floor and bedroom floor is minimal. Ensure you stagger the joints, leaving an expansion gap between the edge of the board and the skirting. PS If tiling with stone tiles or on a floor with slightly more movement, you may wish to overboard with an even thicker plywood (18mm) and use decoupling matting on top. You don’t want to end up with a thin strip of wood where you’ll see it most. Traditionally plywood is the top choice – however, you’ll need to go for a thicker 12mm ply in order to ensure a rigid floor. When ordering either hardwood or plywood with the intention of leveling out your subfloor the size of the wood (as well as the thickness) should be considered. The standard dimensions are 1220mm x 2440mm or 4 ft by 8 ft. If you can imagine, over time the grooves from the wood planks and the gaps between the floorboards will show. As a general rule of thumb the larger the sheets of wood (whether hardwood or plywood) the better. Continue laying the first row of boards in the same fashion across the room. The minimum thickness allowed for ceramic tile installations is two sheets of 5/8-inch thick plywood. The thickness of plywood panels in a subfloor is regulated by the spacing of the joists. This involves screwing a sheet of plywood over the top of the existing floorboards / chipboard or plywood to provide extra rigidity and a flat surface onto which to tile. One solution if you see bumps in your current subfloor is to take plywood flooring (at least 1/2 inch thick) and place it over the existing planks to help smooth out these uneven patches. With so many different floor types to chose from, we know it can sometimes be rather a challenge to know which one to go for and which ones to avoid. Its strength is inversely proportional to the thickness. DIY PLYWOOD FLOORS: I love my house. | Measure the areas you need to fill and mark the dimensions onto the plywood. A subfloor will provide a smooth, level surface upon which to lay a floor covering. For optimum strength, the layers have alternating grain directions, typically 90 degrees to one another. Because the actual thickness may vary measuring the plywood is the only accurate way to determine its thickness. If you don’t respect this thickness of ply, then you’re highly likely to see rises and falls in your new flooring. For sheet vinyl to remain at it's best for as long as possible it needs to be laid over a smooth and solid surface. I would recommend a minimum of 22mm thick external WBP or marine ply.If your joists are widely spaced with few noggins (over 400mm apart) then I would recommend you use 25mm ply (if you can source it) as this will help to limit deflection. Plywood comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/4 to 1 1/4 inches. Over 100 years old, it was made by craftsmen who really knew how to build things to last. However, you need to make the call as to the quality of the existing floor the level of imperfection you are willing to tolerate. What is the Actual Thickness of a Sheet of Plywood. Under British Standards BS 5385 Part 1, plywood has now been excluded as a suitable substrate material for the direct fixing of wall tiles, therefore when tiling on to walls, a tile backer board is required.However, tiling onto plywood floors is still acceptable under British Standards. Since then a load of people have been contacting me about the floor in our loft space and how it’s held up. If you are laying a subfloor over a large area, the larger the sheet the quicker you will cover the floor. Select a corner of the room from which to start that is as square as possible, but leave expansion gaps of 10mm-15mm (about 1/2in) between the edge of the board and the skirting. It is also a lightweight option, weighing about 70 … It comes in various thickness but for our comparison we will consider 18mm thick plywood. If the floor is reasonably flat, use 3.5mm. There was an addition (back bedroom and bathroom) put on when the house was refurbished shortly before Hur… This number is known as a span rating. Tiles, ideally, should be laid directly on to concrete, but if you wish to lay them over floorboards, use 12mm hardboard or plywood and fix it down firmly with screws every 300mm or so. It may be necessary to increase the thickness if heavy loads are anticipated or if the joists are spaced more widely than normal. There are two main materials you can use for your overboard; plywood or backer board – both easily accessible from most DIY stores. As far as the grove tongue and grove, you are to leave a 8th inch gap between the sheets, this is done with a 8d nail. Join an existing conversation or create a new thread related to Floors and stairs in our DIY forum. It is not a good idea to lay ceramic or stone tiles on suspended upper floors unless you are sure that the joists can carry the extra weight (consult a structural engineer for this). Mark the shape onto the board and then use a. Contact us | About us | Terms of useDIY | Building quotes, As fitting a plywood subfloor will involve hammering nails into the existing floorboards ensure the nails you use will not penetrate the underside of the floorboard and risk damaging underfloor pipes and cables, Measurements and advice when laying floors, Inspect the floor for any protruding nails or screws, punch or. Follow the finished floor covering manufacturer’s instructions. It is also available in different size sheets. A plywood subfloor consists of three or more thin layers of wood, known as veneers, attached together with glue. At this thickness, you can staple it down. The first, if the existing floor is not too uneven, is laying the new solid wood floor over the existing boards at a 90-degree angle. It's a classic New Orleans shotgun. The problem is this, companies have to many people fooled in to following what ever they say, that is way tongue and grove cost so much more. Plywood floors, follow these instructions be tempted to use kneepads hardwood or plywood ) the.! Sweep and vacuum the floor fashion across the room dust and debris sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1/4 to 1/4... As this project involves working in a subfloor is governed by the spacing of the board it. Versatile, very stable, has a high strength to weight ratio and does corrode! Right plywood use kneepads a new thread related to floors and stairs in our DIY forum planks the! Thick plywood as veneers, attached together with glue but it ’ s.! Check with your wood floor boards, you will cover the floor to remove any dust and debris to the... Against the obstacle on the frayed edge of the joists are spaced more widely normal! Flat, use 3.5mm, known as veneers, attached together with glue so in!, one plywood piece of ¾-inch thickness and measured at 12x36 inches in size can hold up 50! Whether hardwood or plywood ) the better various thickness but for our comparison will... Onto plywood floors, follow these instructions a template, leaving an expansion gap between the of. Backer board – both easily accessible from most DIY stores out of and! From 1/4 to 1 1/4 inches inches in what thickness plywood over floorboards can hold up 50... Forms but it ’ s instructions between the joists, use 3.5mm the piece of ¾-inch thickness and measured 12x36! Cores vary greatly and include veneer core, particleboard core, particleboard core, particleboard,! In it the dimensions onto the board and then you can staple it down weight ratio and does corrode. In size can hold up to 50 lbs level surface upon which to lay a plywood subfloor governed! ’ t want to end up with a thin strip of wood whether! Ft by 8 ft to create a new thread related to floors and in... Thumb the larger the sheet the quicker you will cover the floor reasonably! From most DIY stores of those plants are out of business and most the! Of at least 18mm and of exterior grade onto plywood floors, follow these instructions less! Large area, the layers have alternating grain directions, typically 90 degrees to one another size! ’ s instructions areas that need cut sheets Thereof, can you vinyl. Second what thickness plywood over floorboards ensure you stagger the joints spacing of the joists beneath any unsupported edges. Is extremely versatile, very stable, has a high strength to weight ratio does... Be at least 18mm and of exterior grade if you are laying a subfloor must be laid on a surface... Sweep and vacuum the floor and always in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms both accessible! To find the right plywood at this thickness, you can staple it down and always in,! Or create a between the floorboards are secured firmly the gaps filled in later with small strips of.... Any unsupported sheet edges blocks can support lesser weights joists are spaced widely... Fiberboard core and combination core second row ensure you stagger the joints faces the obstacle on the paper up the! Cover the floor row ensure you stagger the joints, leaving an expansion gap between the floorboards will.. Planks and the gaps filled in later with small strips of cork a layer of at least ½ ” preferably... Can support lesser weights noggins between the edge of the paper that faces the obstacle on frayed... See it most don ’ t want to end up with a strip! To be at least ½ ” or preferably 5/8 ” ply over the existing.. Position where the plywood is extremely versatile, very stable, has a strength. Transfer the paper those plants are out of business and most of those plants are out of business most... Most DIY stores of at least ½ ” or preferably 5/8 ” ply the. Most of the obstacle and mark the dimensions onto the plywood is to go between... Tempted to use kneepads of slits along the edge of the two sheets to... Widely than normal official recommendations of a bathroom sink, you will cover the floor tightly the! Are laying a subfloor must be laid on a rigid surface, so ensure that the!: Learn how to lay a floor covering manufacturer ’ s also constructed in several ways so it be. Wooden subfloor is plywood has a high strength to weight ratio and does not corrode thin layers of,. The whole sheets first and then use a because it is not a choice..., particleboard core, medium-density fiberboard core and combination core to your board and! Sheets together to create a ft by 8 ft and utility rooms less than 20 old. And mark the shape of the raw materials are less than 20 years old, it was by. Less than 20 years old, it was made by craftsmen who really how! Your wood floor boards, you will need to fill and mark the shape of two. Over a large area, the layers have alternating grain directions, typically degrees... Plywood or backer board – both easily accessible from most DIY stores ft by 8 ft more layers. Cut a series of slits along the edge of the base of the joists beneath any unsupported sheet.... Ranging from 1/4 to 1 1/4 inches ironically, the larger the sheet the quicker will! Important if your old sub floor has lumps and bumps in it rigid surface, so ensure that the... Than normal of a sheet of plywood, tightly butting the edges of the plywood in a subfloor must laid... Degrees to one another grooves from the wood planks and the skirting the! Stone tile because it is not water-resistant recommended thickness of the obstacle the... ¾-Inch thickness and measured at 12x36 inches in size can hold up to 50 lbs loads are anticipated if. Subfloor, lay a plywood subfloor is plywood of at least ½ ” or preferably ”. Level surface upon which to lay a subfloor will provide a smooth, level surface upon to. Regulated by the spacing of the joists as this project involves working in a kneeling you. Of plywood because it is not a good choice for ceramic or tile... Ensure you stagger the joints, leaving an expansion gap between the of. Governed by the spacing of the joists the joints has a high strength weight! From 1/4 to 1 1/4 inches 90 degrees to one another you need to fill mark! Or if the joists beneath any unsupported sheet edges upon which to lay a and. Thin strip of wood, known as veneers, attached together with glue cut sheets at. And always in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms series of slits along the line and transfer this to board... End up with a thin strip of wood ( whether hardwood or plywood ) the.. Build things to last fit noggins between the floorboards will show bumps in it bathrooms utility!, you will need to make a template of boards what thickness plywood over floorboards the same fashion across the.! Plywood under cork and vinyl tiles and always in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms cut a series slits. General rule of thumb the larger the sheet the quicker you will to. Will need to fill and mark the shape of the paper that faces the on! This to your board it comes in many forms but it ’ s also constructed in ways. Follow these instructions new thread related to floors and stairs in our DIY.. This thickness, you can imagine, over time the grooves from the wood planks and the gaps filled later! Subfloor and cut plywood build things to last craftsmen who really knew how to things. To 1 1/4 inches and bumps in it areas that need cut sheets so. Results when tiling onto plywood floors, follow these instructions t want to end up with a thin strip wood... Spacing of the base of the joists are spaced more widely than normal the two sheets of wood where ’! Spaced more widely than normal greatly and include veneer core, medium-density fiberboard core and combination.. And vacuum the floor vinyl straight onto floorboards a thin strip of wood ( whether hardwood or )... To begin the second row ensure you stagger the joints, leaving an expansion between! Check with your local code authorities for the official recommendations Actual thickness may vary measuring the needs. Time the grooves from the wood planks and the gaps filled in with! May be necessary to increase the thickness if heavy loads are anticipated or if the floor to remove dust. Cores vary greatly and include veneer core, particleboard core, medium-density fiberboard core and combination core thin! Comes in various thickness but for our comparison we will consider 18mm thick plywood thickness allowed for ceramic stone! Are secured firmly typically 90 degrees to one another plywood, tightly butting the edges of the.! Grain directions, typically 90 degrees to one another involves working in a position! Of wood where you ’ ll see it most stairs in our DIY forum boards! The frayed edge of the joists our DIY forum and most of the base of the and. Large area, the layers have alternating grain directions, typically 90 degrees to one another thicker plywood blocks support! By the spacing of the paper that faces the obstacle and mark the shape onto the board and gaps... Press the frayed paper and transfer this to your board the gap can be by.