Wood sub floor materials have evolved over the years from dimensional plank lumber to particle board to plywood, the material of choice in a modern construction. The thickness of your wood sub floor plywood should be determined by a few different factors such as the spacing of floor joists, what type of flooring will be being installed and whether there will be an additional underlayment between the wood sub floor and the flooring.

The minimum thickness you should consider for your wood subfloor plywood is 5/8” on 16” centered floor joists but, honestly, ¾” really should be used if at all possible. You just almost can’t over do it at this point. The sturdier your wood sub floor, the fewer problems with damaged flooring from unstable bouncy sub floors.

When laying your wood sub floor it is absolutely necessary to be certain your first sheet of plywood is square to the foundation because every other sheet of plywood will key off of this first sheet. Orient the plywood sheets in such a manner as to span as many floor joists as possible while staggering the ends so no two sheets of the wood sub floor end next to each other in mid-frame.

Use an adhesive between the floor joists and wood sub floor material as well as between the plywood sheet edges even if they are tongue-and-groove. The plywood sheets should be attached to the floor joists with quality deck screws every eight to twelve inches, especially along the edges.

If you will follow all of these points when laying your wood sub floor, you will eliminate most of the problems of squeaky flooring before they start. Good luck and have fun.

Related posts:

1. Replacing Wood Sub Floors
2. Removing Wood Sub Floors
3. Types of Wood Sub Floors

Before replacing your wood sub floors you must be certain the floor joists are sound, straight, level and have a smooth top surface. If not these issues will have to be addressed before you actually begin the reinstallation procedure on the wood sub floors themselves.

After establishing that the floor joists are sound, straight and level you can begin actually replacing the wood sub floors. You will first need to nail lengths of wood block, preferably of two inch thick lumber, to the side of the floor joist along the edge of the replacement area at the same level as the top of the joist. These blocks will provide a ledge for the replacement wood sub floor material to rest on.

No matter what type of wood dub floor material you are replacing, you should go back with plywood of the proper thickness to match the old wood sub floor. If you cannot match the height exactly, choose the thickest plywood you can use without being higher than the old wood sub flooring. You will then shim along the floor joists with roofing felt to bring the replacement wood sub floor up to the same height as the existing sub floor.

After all shimming and leveling has been accomplished and the replacement piece of wood sub floor has been cut to precisely match the hole, adhesive should be liberally applied to the tops of the floor joists and the edges of the replacement piece of wood sub floor before attaching it to the floor joists and blocks with high quality deck screws every six to eight inches especially along the edges.

Replacing areas of, or even entire, wood sub floors is a big job but can be completed with confidence if you just take your time and consider each move before you make it. If, however, you start to feel overwhelmed or find more serious problems than you had anticipated, we strongly recommend at least consulting with a licensed contractor to assess your given situation.

As always, remember to take the time to familiarize yourself with all tools and equipment before beginning as well as the safety procedures necessary to their operation.

Related posts:

1. Removing Wood Sub Floors
2. Leveling Wood Sub Floors
3. How to Lay Wood Sub Floors