The most common types of subflooring materials are plywood, OSB, and particle board. Plywood is a sheet material that is made up of thin layers of wood veneer. It is strong and durable, making it a good choice for subflooring. However, it is also relatively expensive.
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.
Plywood is the most common subfloor and is a popular choice because of its strength, durability,and ease of installation.
Plywood is generally preferred for flooring due to its strength, stability, and resistance to moisture. While OSB can be used for flooring, plywood offers better performance and durability over the long term. Choose plywood for high-quality and long-lasting flooring solutions.
1/2'' ply is ok if your subfloor is in good shape - flat and sturdy. 5/8'' or 3/4'' is better if it's dodgy. Think about transitions to other flooring in the house though.
For general residential use, 3/4 inch CDX plywood (3/4 plywood) with tongue and groove edges is a reliable choice. For areas with higher moisture levels, marine-grade or pressure-treated plywood is recommended.
Rather than nails, screws are best to use for subfloors — these fasteners are convenient, easy to remove and capable of providing torque that nails lack. Because of their structure, screws can penetrate plywood more easily and improve the connection, whereas nails can weaken the plywood.
OSB can be manufactured into panels that are larger than plywood. OSB is more uniform, so there are fewer soft spots, such as those that can occur in plywood. OSB is less expensive than plywood. To build a typical 2,400-square foot home, OSB may cost $700 less than plywood.
The code requires 1 1/4" floor thickness (overall) unless it is tongue and groove plywood in which case 3/4" is adequate. Will 1/4” plywood over 1x10 plank subfloor be thick enough t ...
Both OSB and plywood are great materials for a subfloor, but in our books, there's one winner. Plywood is simply a much better product from different perspectives, from water-resistance to durability.
A total subfloor thickness of at least 1-1/4 inches is necessary, typically involving a combination of plywood or OSB and a cement board underlayment.
The most common types of subflooring materials are plywood, OSB, and particle board. Plywood is a sheet material that is made up of thin layers of wood veneer. It is strong and durable, making it a good choice for subflooring.
Plywood: Renowned for its strength and durability, plywood is one of the best subfloor materials for residential projects where moisture is not a major concern. It's ideal under hardwood, laminate, and carpet.
Although Advantech subflooring looks like plywood, its high-quality performance is worth the investment. For years, builders have trusted Advantech for its moisture resistance, strength, and durability. This brand guarantees you won't hear a squeak after installation.
On truss/joist spacing of 16” (406mm) o/c or less, the industry standard for single-panel subflooring is nominal 5/8” (19/32”, 15.1mm) CD Exposure 1 Plywood subfloor panels (CD EXPOSURE 1) or 23/32 OSB Exposure 1 subfloor panels, 4' X 8' sheets.
1. CDX. CDX plywood is the most common plywood used for subflooring.
Generally speaking, OSB absorbs moisture slower but plywood dries faster. When plywood gets wet, it typically swells consistently across the sheet and then shrinks back to its normal dimension as it dries out. OSB tends to swell along the edges and will retain a portion of that misshapen edge after it dries out.
The minimum thickness of plywood for subflooring is about 5/8 inch.
For added strength and stability, a double-layer subfloor is often recommended. In this configuration, two layers of plywood are installed, with the top layer offset from the seams of the bottom layer. By staggering the seams, the subfloor's overall strength is enhanced, reducing the risk of deflection or squeaks.
Strength. OSB and plywood are very similar in terms of strength, but plywood is stiffer than OSB by a factor of approximately 10%.
Plywood weighs less than OSB. Nails, screws, and fasteners are more likely to remain more firmly in place with plywood than OSB. Plywood panels swell less than OSB when they come in contact with moisture. Swollen plywood will also usually return to its nominal thickness when it dries out.
Prone to swelling edges and telegraphing.
“The major disadvantage of OSB is that if it gets exposed to significant amounts of water or moisture, the edges expand by up to 15% ... especially if they are cut edges. This swell will then telegraph onto the shingles or some flooring," according to PATH.
You have the top layer that is your floor covering (Hardwood, Laminate, Vinyl, Carpet, etc.), next you have the underlayment (usually a thin layer of fiber, foam, rubber), below that you have your subfloor (plywood, OSB, concrete), and lastly you have the joists which are the foundation to your floors.
Improperly spaced and placed subfloor panels can cause performance issues and lead to various structural failures, such as raised joints or buckling. While installing panels too tightly or without any gaps won't allow the material to expand and contract, leaving too much gap can cause excessive movement and noises.
Ensuring that those joists are spaced properly means you won't have to trim any edges of the panels. 2nd Row. Step 1, stagger by 1/2 panel for the second row. Our engineering notes require this and its best practice.