Floor Grade Plywood

Before you learn about the various grades of plywood and which are most appropriate for use as underlayment it is important to distinguish between an underlayment and subfloor.

Floor grade plywood.

Though often used interchangeably the two terms refer to different components of a well structured floor design. For more information about softwood plywood visit. This guide will explain the different uses of plywood as well as popular plywood sheet sizes and its rating and grade system so that you can choose the best plywood for your project. Fg1 flooring grade plywood is a new product introduced into the uk market in 2016 and has been specifically manufactured for the flooring trade.

Once reserved for subfloors and sheathing construction grade plywood is now making a splash as affordable residential finish flooring. The subfloor is the decking installed on top of flooring joists. Tight knots to 1 1 2 in. Knots and knotholes up to 2 1 2 in.

Specialized furniture grade plywood is often used in furniture. What size plywood do i use for a subfloor. Ecoply flooring is ideal as a substrate for most floor coverings and flexible waterproofing membranes. It is also widely used for flexible and rigid overlay products such as carpets linoleum tiles and membrane systems or any application where a smooth substrate is required.

Plywood underlayment is a thin plywood material that is most commonly used under resilient flooring materials such as vinyl and linoleum sheets and tiles. And knotholes to 1 in some splits and discoloration. It exceeds industry standards and requirements for flooring grade plywood as set out by bs 8203 2017 guidelines. It can also be used under hardwood laminate and carpet but this is much less common these days because subflooring is typically smooth enough for these materials many of which are installed with a different type of underlayment or pad.

Plywood is a necessity in many diy and construction projects but not every type of plywood works for every project. This type of wood has a specific hardwood surface veneer and it is used in bare furniture wall paneling and cabinetry. If your plywood subfloor is too thin it might not cope with the load and it might creak or squeak when you walk on it. The finished floor is then installed on top of the subfloor.

The thickness of plywood. Because of how plywood is treated and stained there is also a great deal of variety that buyers can enjoy when it comes to purchasing plywood for furniture. The national wood flooring association recommends a minimum plywood panel thickness of 7 8 inch for joist spans of 19 2 to 24 inches and a minimum plywood panel thickness of 5 8 inch for joist spans of 16 inches or less. Even within the different plywood grades you ll likely find a wide range in the number of repairs or defects.

There are two basic ways to go.