Installing plywood over a plank subfloor is a fairly common practice and it’s done in many home renovations and constructions. Doing so is easier than many folks would expect, and it’s a lasting solution if you’re wondering what kind of flooring can be put over a plank subfloor.
You can install plywood over a plank subfloor without too much difficulty. As is the case with any renovation or construction, you’ll need to plan the project well and use only high-quality materials to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.
Fortunately, you don’t need any special knowledge or skills to successfully install plywood over a plank subfloor; it’s a task you can take care of and feel proud of afterward.
Should You Put Plywood Over Plank Subfloor?
Installing plywood flooring over a plank subfloor may be an easy enough project, but does that mean it’s something you should be doing?
You can install plywood over a plank subfloor without worrying too much about whether or not it’s a good idea. It’s not a bad idea at all, as long as you give yourself enough time for the project. Don’t rush it, or you risk making a mess that could have been avoided.
There are several considerations to keep in mind when you plan to install plywood over a plank subfloor. First, consider the different types of plywood that you can use. You can choose from OSB (Oriented Strand Board), which is structurally engineered to be really strong, CDX, and T and G.
CDX is similar to other kinds of laminate plywood but the outer laminate grades are D and C. That means one side of the plywood is rough and the other side is even rougher. Unfortunately, this type often has defects on the surfaces, so they’re more affordable.
T and G, tongue and groove plywood, have jointed edges with a groove on one side and a tongue on the other. They are easy to fit together and you can find OSB and CDX plywood available in this arrangement. Typically, construction adhesive is used to keep these plywood sheets or planks together.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on November 24, 2022.
The kind of plywood you use depends on you, but many professionals recommend the tongue and groove type because they’re easier to fit together and can stay securely in place for a long time.
What Tools Do You Need to Put Plywood Over Plank Subfloor?
No matter what kind of construction or renovation you want to do, you need the right tools for the job. Naturally, you need the most appropriate tools for installing plywood over a plank subfloor to ensure it’s done smoothly and successfully.
When installing plywood over a plank subfloor, you’ll need a level to ensure you’re working accurately, a tape measure, a power screwdriver, reliable nails or screws, and construction adhesive.
You may also need cleaning supplies to clean the plank subfloor before starting the project and to clean the plywood after you’ve installed it.
What Preparations Do You Need to Put Plywood Over Plank Subfloor?
Any successful construction project is only as good as the planning that went into it. If you want to install plywood over your plank subfloor without any hiccups, you should plan it well and give yourself enough time so nothing is done hurriedly. A hurried job will be an unsatisfactory one.
There are a handful of preparations to make when you plan to install new plywood flooring over your existing plank subfloor. You need to be certain that the current subfloor is stable and that any broken planks are repaired before you start.
If the subfloor has any bumps or lumps in it, you may have to install a layer of plywood over the existing planks before continuing with your project. This layer should be 5/8” for the best results. Skip this step and you may end up with ‘falls’ and ‘rises’ in your new plywood flooring.
Should you notice any stubborn materials, gunk, or glue on the subfloor, sand them off as best you can. As far as you can, work only with full sheets of plywood—the end result will look a lot better for it. Doing so will also make your work a lot easier and less frustrating and less time-consuming.
Avoid fixing your plywood to the joists of the old floor because you want to create a ‘slip’ between the two. That way, you don’t need any kind of liner between the plywood and the old subfloor.
Allow your plywood to acclimatize before you lay it. This means you let it sit in the room where it will be installed for at least 24 hours so it can grow accustomed to the humidity and temperature.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on November 24, 2022.
How to Put Plywood Over Plank Subfloor
Once you have taken all the preparatory steps, it is time to install your new plywood flooring over your old plank subfloor. This will be a task that will take time and effort, but it’s worth all the trouble once you’re done!
To successfully install plywood over a plank subfloor, you need to clean the area thoroughly. Then you need to remove any baseboards in your way and start laying your plywood on the floor and screw it into place.
After you’ve pried off any baseboards that could be in your way, you should clean up the area once more to ensure a neat working space.
Start the installation by laying a sheet of plywood squarely in a corner. Leave a gap of at least 1/8” between your plywood and the walls to allow for easy natural contraction and expansion.
When you are satisfied with how the plywood sheet looks, you can nail or screw it firmly into place. Wood screws are the best option in this case, and you should space them about nine inches apart. Also, consider countersinking your screws into your plywood. Doing this will ensure that the screws don’t cause trouble in the future.
You may have to cut some pieces of the plywood into shapes to fit perfectly into your room. Lay your plywood sheets and nail them or screw them into place until you have covered the entire plank subfloor. Reinstall your baseboards and you are done!
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on November 24, 2022.