When renovating your home, you may want to consider the durability of Plywood Flooring. It is an excellent material for use in many rooms in the home, but there are some things to consider when installing it. This article will discuss costs, precautions, and how to install it. Before you make the final decision, read on to learn more about the material.
Durability
Plywood flooring is a versatile flooring material that can withstand all kinds of environments. Its multiple layers make it stronger than the average wood flooring material. However, it is not as durable as hardwood flooring. Plywood flooring has a lower resale value than hardwood flooring, and it may not hold up to the daily abuse that hardwood flooring endures. Plywood flooring may show signs of wear and tear over time, and it may even develop holes or knots as it ages.
Plywood’s cross-laminated construction makes it more shock-absorbing than other materials. Plywood also tends to dry quickly and resists permanent swelling. However, it is important to remember that even if you use plywood flooring, it will eventually burn in a fire. This makes it essential to remove a serious spill quickly.
Plywood flooring varies in durability depending on the type of wood used for its construction. The most durable wood is Brazilian redwood, but it is expensive. Softer woods include oak and pine. However, there are some techniques that can increase the durability of soft woods, such as staining.
Cost
Plywood flooring is a cheap and attractive option for flooring your home. Typically, a sheet of plywood costs between $15 and $25, covering up to 32 square feet of flooring. It’s more affordable than hardwood floors and carpeting, but it is prone to warping over time, particularly if exposed to moisture.
While plywood is not the most durable material for flooring, it is easy to stain and refinish. It can also be adapted to your home’s decor. Because it comes in a wide variety of grades and types, you can customize the design of the floor to match your home’s decor.
The cost of plywood flooring can vary depending on the type of wood you choose. Solid hardwood is a traditional choice for flooring, but some people prefer parquet or engineered hardwood instead. The cost of hardwood flooring will depend on the species of wood, as durable woods tend to be more expensive. Also, thicker boards are more expensive than thin ones. The cut/grain of the wood will also affect labor and waste costs.
Precautions
When installing plywood flooring, you should follow certain guidelines to prevent damage to the wood and to ensure a tight fit. First, ensure that the area you are working on is clean. This includes the subfloor, which should be free of dust and debris. If you have a wax buildup, be sure to remove it before installing the plywood. You can purchase a wax remover from your local home improvement store. Follow the directions on the packaging to properly remove wax. You can also use an ammonia-water mixture to remove wax.
The next step is to install the final row of the floor, keeping the space between adjacent boards at least six inches. This spacing is crucial because if you do not, you will have an H-shaped pattern that may not look good. It is also important to space the boards evenly so that there is room for expansion.
When installing plywood flooring, it is important to consider the spacing of the joists. If you have less than 16-inch spacing, you may need to cut the plywood to make room for the joists. This could cause a weak spot in the floor.
Installation
The first step in installing plywood flooring is to make sure that the sheet is plumb and level. Then, install the plywood sheet so that the grain goes across the joists. This step is important because the plywood will be nailed into the floor joists, and you’ll need to ensure that the nails are set 10 inches away from the edges.
Then, use a hammer to tap in two set nails at each corner of the plywood. Leave about 3/4 inch of the nail sticking out of the plywood so that it will be easier to pull out. Once the nails are set, the ply flooring can be placed on top. Next, you need to acclimate the new flooring.
Installing plywood flooring over a concrete slab requires a few additional steps. Before installing the plywood, you must fix uneven areas of the concrete subfloor. Otherwise, the plywood will not sit level, and this can cause problems during the installation process. This step is time-consuming but requires very little specialized equipment. Most materials for leveling concrete are available at your local home improvement center.