Thickness Of Subfloor For Hardwood Flooring

Sub flooring must be installed with the strength axis perpendicular to the flooring joists.

Thickness of subfloor for hardwood flooring.

3 4 thick solid wood flooring and most all other hardwood flooring including engineered or floating engineered wood flooring and laminate floors can be installed directly over 5 8 or 3 4 thick cdx plywood sub floors. Usually manufactured in 4 by 8 foot sheets plywood panels and osb are acceptable subfloors for hardwood. 3 check before installation. Allow for a 1 32 inch gap between subflooring panels when installing hardwood flooring to accommodate swelling with increased moisture content.

Thoroughly vacuum the existing floor and use a long level and tape measure to ensure the subfloor is level within 3 16 inch for every 10 feet. Cdx plywood should be a minimum of 7 16 inch thick. Considering the fasteners are installed at a 45 degree angle or blind nailed overall thickness required runs about 5 8 of one inch. If the spacing increases to but is no more than 19 2.

If the joists are spaced 16 inches on centers or less the minimum required thicknesses are 5 8 inches for plywood and 23 32 inches for osb. Once you determine the subfloor is the proper thickness check that the subfloor is. What are the thicknesses of subflooring. 1 2 inch 12 7 mm 5 8 inch 15 88 mm.

Tongue and groove plywood is available to reduce squeaks and help the subfloor fit together better. Nail down or floating floors may be installed over existing vinyl as long as it is no more than two layers thick. 1 suitable wood flooring. Floating sub floors floating sub floors for solid hardwood installations generally consist of two layers of plywood or allowing enough wood for a 1 inch flooring cleat to hold effectively.

Plywood is the best subfloor for hardwood flooring installation. Subfloor goes between the joists or boards framing the floor. A smooth surface is necessary for a subfloor. 7 16 15 32 and 1 2 inch thick panels require joists spaced 16 inches on center.

The thicknesses are as follows.