What is sturd floor?

Sturd-I-Floor is a combination subfloor-underlayment produced from OSB or plywood. These panels feature a built-in underlayment that allows the convenience of using only Sturd-I-Floor under certain finish flooring, especially carpet and pad.

In this regard, what kind of plywood do you use for subfloor?

Plywood Subflooring Plywood has been a standard subfloor material since the 1950s and remains the preferred subflooring for many builders. Standard plywood can be used for subfloors, but a better material is 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.

Also, what is standard subfloor thickness? Generally, the minimum thickness for plywood is 5/8 inch; for OSB it's 23/32 inch. However, as joist spacing increases, ViewSubflooringSuppliers. the subfloors need to be thicker. For joist spacing of more than 16 inches up to 19.2 inches on center, the minimum thickness for both plywood and OSB is 3/4 inch.

Furthermore, is subfloor considered structural?

Typically made of plywood or OSB and ranging in thickness from 19/32" to 1 1/8" thick, the subfloor is truly structural, second only to joists in this respect. Subfloor holds up all of the above layers of flooring, as well as everything in your house—people, dogs, cats, pianos, furniture. All houses have subfloors.

How thick should Plywood be for flooring?

The National Wood Flooring Association recommends a minimum plywood panel thickness of 7/8-inch for joist spans of 19.2 to 24 inches, and a minimum plywood panel thickness of 5/8-inch for joist spans of 16 inches or less.

38 Related Question Answers Found

How many layers of plywood do you need for a subfloor?

Personally, I would also make sure the floor joists are close enough together to give good support. Two plywood layers would span 24 inches in most cases, but if you want to get by with one layer, spacing the joists at 16 inch centers will give you a better floor.

Do I need to glue plywood to subfloor?

On the 3/4" subfloor, you have the right idea. Use subfloor adhesive, and screw 8" at edges, 12" in field. For the 1/2" underlayment, ideally, you want to screw every 6" all across the panel. Adhesive will help you here, as the subfloor plywood will have voids in spots that will not hold a fastener.

Can I put new subfloor over old subfloor?

One of the benefits of removing the old flooring is it allows you the chance to fix any loose subflooring or squeaks by re-securing the main subfloor to the floor joists prior to installing the new flooring. With all that being said though the answer is YES you can install New Wood Flooring over the old.

What kind of plywood is used for flooring?

While OSB is the most popular structural panel, CDX plywood is the most popular type of traditional or "veneer" plywood. CDX plywood is like other laminate plywoods, but the outer layers of laminate are grades "C" and "D," which means they are cosmetically rough and contain many imperfections, thus lowering their cost.

Should I 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.

Can you use plywood as flooring?

But plywood's softer surface has a tendency to chip and dent, making the final application of a hard top coating vital to the success of your floor. Plywood floors are suitable for any room where you'd otherwise install hardwood, though kitchens and bathrooms are less desirable since frequent water spills are likely.

How thick should Plywood be under tile?

British Standards recommend a minimum of 15mm thick plywood to be used for over-boarding purposes (any less will not provide the rigidity required). 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.

Why does the floor shake?

Wood-framed floors at a first or second floor are designed to support people, furniture and appliances. As a result, certain types of movement may cause the floor to vibrate. In some cases, running a washing machine or walking across a floor that has a loose subfloor may cause vibrations.

Can you use subfloor as your floor?

Wood subflooring isn't designed to be the top layer of flooring. Well-constructed wood subflooring is sturdy, but using it as regular flooring could damage its surface and reduce its lifespan.

Is a sagging floor dangerous?

Sagging floors can and often lead to a more serious problem with your home. You may have a wet crawl space, and when the crawl space isn't sealed off and protected from moisture, it can damage floor joists, create wood rot, attract unwanted pests, and promote mold and bacteria growth.

How do I know if my subfloor is damaged?

9 Common Signs of Subfloor Damage

Your floors are uneven or sunken in parts.
Your floorboards squeak – loudly.
The room smells musty.
Your floors shift or bounce when you walk on them.
Your toilet is rocking or loose.
Your tile flooring has cracked.
Your hardwood floor is cupping.
Your linoleum floor is bubbling up.

Why does my floor feel spongy?

A spongy feel underfoot might indicate that the subfloor is not securely attached to the floor joists. This condition allows the floor to give slightly when you step. If the problem is under a linoleum floor, you can't run screws into the flooring surface or you'll damage the linoleum.

How thick is the two level floor?

In a typical home, the entire structure between levels can be about 12 to 14 inches thick, depending on the type of joists used and the finish materials for the floor and ceiling.

How do I strengthen my floor joists with plywood?

How to Reinforce Joists with Plywood

Measure the distance from the bottom of the floor to the bottom of the joist.
Measure the length of the beam.
Cut four strips of one-inch plywood to the width of the first measurement.
Drill ¼-inch pilot holes at six-inch intervals down both long sides of each plywood board.

Does subfloor go under bathtub?

Flooring repairs can be intimidating, but the subfloor under the tub generally consists of plywood secured over floor joists and is fairly simple to replace -- once you get access to it. The entire tub unit requires removal before subfloor replacement can begin.

Are squeaky floors a structural problem?

In real life, a squeak is no big deal—that is, they don't signal structural damage, like termites, that could cause your floor or joist to collapse. And fixing squeaky wood floors is fairly simple. Although any floor can squeak, hardwood floors and staircases are the common culprits.

Do you nail or screw subfloor?

Although ring shank nails have a good hold, screws have more overall holding power by comparison. With a larger thread gripping a bigger surface area around them, screws hold your subfloor very tightly – allowing no wiggle room for shifting or loosening.