I am in the process of gutting our new home and have a thousand questions but the first is about the Sub-floor. As always money is a concern but penny wise and thousands foolish is also a factor. For the most part the finished floor will be hardwood with some areas of carpet and tile.
OSB – Plywood – Advantech – Something else ? Which would be the best way to go ?
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Replies
Akoonim,
Advantech hands down. The stuff will stand up to weather like nothing else. I've been using it for a couple of years now and it is a great product. It's only about two bucks a sheet more than regular osb in my area and is well worth it. Plywood is more expensive and won't stand the weather at all ..... is much harder to put down[comes out with pretty severe bows in it sometimes]..... I can't see where there is any advantage to plywood whatsoever except that it will give nails slightly more holding power if you intend to install hardwood floors. Make sure you use plenty of construction adhesive no matter what you choose. That will go a long way towards preventing squeaks. Good luck.
Mark
Yes Advantec for structural subfloor but I'm getting a hint from context that you are talking about underlayment, not subfloor.???????????
Excellence is its own reward!
If you are gutting your existing home, you already have a substrate. What is it OSB?, plywood? planking? How thick is it 5/8, 3/4 or 1"? What style of hardwood are you planning to use T&G?, floating panels? Need input.
Right now there is 3/4 inch T&G. But that has too much damage (and smell) to keep and will be totally removed, so I'm starting with nothing down. Our plans are for 3/4 inch T&G hardwood, tile in bath area and some carpet in the beedrooms.
Then get advantec and put it down with glue and screws.
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks to all !
Lots of work ahead - lots of questions !
Don't us OSB you are just asking for problems down the road. I usually use 5/8"TG -3/4" even better but if money is a question 5/8 will be good under your hardwood. This is screwed and glued down. A 3/8 plywood is placed on top for ceramic tile. This will make the ceramic the same height as the hardwood and will make the floor stiffer as noted in the previous reply. Most of the floor trusses here are spaced 19.3"OC and there is no problems with the 5/8TG
Good luck
Kevin
Thanks - plywood it is !
Don't use OSB! The underside has a tendancy to "blow-out" when installing hardwood. 3/4"Plywood would be my recommended substrate for nailed T&G hardwood. 3/4 makes for a good solid floor, glue and screw to avoid squeaks andbecause you will be cutting the existing sub-floor to the exterior wall plates, add some blocking in those areas. I like to glue and staple 3/8 spruce plywood on top of the 3/4 as an underlay for tile. It strengthens the floor in tiled areas and also raises the finished tile to the same level as hardwood or carpet with a heavy foam underlay. If you have a roof, I don't see any reason to use a flooring designed to resist water damage and also the material safety data sheet recommends that gloves be worn when handling Advantec and to avoid skin contact.
sometimes board sometimes knot
Check out the manufacturers reccomendations and warranties on what ever finish floor you will be putting over.
I second the motion to use glue and screws or at least some kind of deformed-shank nails.
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!