The scope of this sheet material quite extensive. When doing work on your own (construction or repair), plywood is often used in arranging the floor - both for leveling it for the finish coat, and for mounting it on logs of light flooring for further painting or applying varnish. Regardless of the goal pursued by the home master, the technology is identical in both cases.

And given the exact geometry of the plywood sheets, the simplicity of their cutting and low weight, all activities for installing the floor from plywood along the logs at each stage can be done by hand, without resorting to the services of various advisers and assistants.

By itself, the process of arranging a plywood floor will not cause any difficulties even for a non-specialist. The main thing in this work is competent preparation To her. The quality and durability of the coating directly depends on the choice of appropriate materials. For those who are really interested in the final result, the author strongly recommends that you carefully study the information below, and only then master the nuances of installing plywood along the logs.

Sheet stacking scheme

You should start with this. In order to draw a plan of a particular room on a sheet, taking into account all the features of its configuration, you do not need to be a specialist. The main thing is to maintain the scale. After that, measurements of all the linear parameters of the room are made and put on the diagram. It turns out a drawing that will be needed to calculate the required volume of purchase of the required materials.

What is the feature? Plywood sheets have the correct geometry, and go on sale. Mainly for domestic use samples are purchased 244 x 122 or 152.5 x 152.5 (cm) - this is the standard format. There are more overall products, and when finishing large areas it is much more convenient. But the question arises - how to transport it? For example, with a sheet length of 3.6 m (these are also sold).

After drawing up the plan of the room, it remains only to apply a “grid” on it, the cells of which are projections of each sheet. The task is simple - to draw up a diagram of their laying in such a way as to engage in cutting as little as possible. For those who first come across the issue of arranging floors on plywood logs, it is worth explaining what such careful planning gives.

• The amount of waste is reduced, therefore, construction (repair) is partially cheaper. A zealous owner will appreciate this.
• When we are talking on the implementation of one or another technological operation with their own hands, it is understood that House master uses household tools. Does every home have a jigsaw? So, you have to cut plywood with what is at hand. For example, a hacksaw. And this is both time and low quality of the cut.

What to consider?

When drawing up a plywood laying scheme, it is necessary to arrange all the sheets so as to cover the maximum possible area with them, and it is with whole samples. Naturally, there will be separate sections for which you will have to cut (in size) fragments. But in this case, you can also purchase the so-called substandard. It is in every building / materials store and is sold at bargain prices. As an option - buy sheets of plywood of smaller sizes (there are also such).

So careful preparation will significantly reduce costs. By the way, this applies not only to plywood (the number of sheets and their sizes), but also to logs. They are also characterized by different lengths, so you have to decide on them.

Choice of plywood

By variety

One of the tasks of do-it-yourself work is to achieve maximum savings. From the same point of view it is necessary to approach the acquisition Supplies. In terms of quality / cost per sheet for arranging floors, the best are. Both of them are moisture resistant, are sold in a large assortment, have identical linear dimensions and sample thickness. What is the difference?

• FSF costs 1.5 times cheaper than FC.
• In the manufacturing process of both plywood, adhesives are used to hold the veneer layers together. But if the preparation for FC does not contain toxic components, then they are present in the glue for PSF (formaldehyde). That is why the last modification is recommended mainly for external work, since when the ambient temperature rises, harmful substances begin to be released from such plywood.

How to proceed? If the floor is arranged along the lags in a residential area, it is unambiguous to focus on the FC sheets. For installation in unheated utility rooms (sheds, outbuildings), cheaper plywood with the FSF marking is also quite suitable.

Thickness

The purchase of plywood for this parameter is complicated by the fact that it is necessary to take into account following points. Firstly, the interval between the lags, which is selected depending on the characteristics of the arrangement of the floor. For example, how and with what it is supposed to be additionally insulated. Secondly, it is possible to increase the strength of the flooring not only by increasing the thickness of the sheets or by reducing the distance between the lags, but also by laying plywood not in 1, but in 2 layers.

• For a single-layer installation scheme, it is worth purchasing sheets with a thickness (mm) in the range of 15 - 18 (depending on the expected load on the floor). Reducing this value will not ensure the reliability of the coating, increasing it will complicate the work with sheets (first of all, cutting them) and increase the weight of the entire structure to be mounted (and this is an additional load on the floor).
• If it is planned to lay plywood in two levels, then samples with a thickness of about 8 - 10 mm can be purchased.

By grade of plywood

As a rule, when arranging floors along logs, cheaper sheet material is purchased. After all, all its flaws are reliably hidden by the finishing. The main thing is that the samples do not have significant defects in the form of chips or emerging cracks.

In some cases, the owner leaves the flooring as it is, covering the plywood only with varnish. With a similar organization of the floor, the purchase of sheets with a grade below 2/4 is impractical. What is the feature of this product? GOST allows the presence of defects on its surface, but only on one side. When arranging the floor along the logs, such plywood (2/4) is the best choice.

According to processing

It is appropriate to note such a characteristic of the sheet material. In order to optimize costs, you should pay attention to plywood, the abbreviation of which contains the designation NSh (unsanded) or NSh1 (with one-sided sanding). Accordingly, what is better to buy depends on how it is planned to finish the subfloor further. If you only paint (apply varnish) - then NSh1. In other cases, cheaper sheets with the designation NSh are sufficient.

Log selection

By material

There are only two possible options - metal or wood. If we consider from the point of view of ease of installation, weight, correct geometry and a number of other parameters, then the conclusion is unambiguous - it is better to purchase metal logs for arranging the floor. But such a judgment does not take into account all the nuances of operation.

In any room, the microclimate changes, sometimes quite dramatically. First of all, this refers to temperature. Its differences cause deformation of materials. To make the design as stable as possible, when combining several different types of elements, they are selected according to expansion coefficients; they should be as equal as possible.

What is a plywood joist floor? Sheets are glued and pressed layers of wood veneer. Therefore, it is better to choose a wooden base on which they are supposed to be fixed. That is, a beam or a thick board mounted on an edge. No matter how convenient metal is to work with, it is unlikely that warping of the floor will be avoided with such lags. If not immediately, then in a couple of years it will definitely manifest itself.

By type of tree

The specifics of the room (dry or wet) does not yet give a complete understanding of the conditions in which the wood will be. Logs are mounted on the ceiling. What's under it - a heated room on the ground floor, basement or something different? Options may vary. But the probability of rotting, deformation of the material in any case cannot be ruled out.

What is recommended? Larch is the best solution. This softwood not only resistant to moisture, but unlike other similar rocks, when the temperature rises, it does not tar so intensely, and when wet (in the future) it only gains strength. No wonder it was her experienced craftsmen used for bookmarking lower crown log house. In addition, the price of lumber is quite acceptable.

Geometry

It's short here. All joists must be absolutely straight. Even the slightest distortion is unacceptable. Otherwise, not only their alignment when laying on the base will be complicated. Even slight mismatches in the upper cuts in height will lead to the fact that the plywood floor will turn out to be uneven. It is extremely difficult to fix such defects of it, and even in several places, with your own hands.

The optimal cross-section of the beam for the log (mm) is 100 x 50.

According to wood moisture

You need to purchase for the log only lumber dried in production (with an indicator not higher than 12%). It costs more than products natural humidity, but it is here that the savings are not justified. It is unlikely that it will be possible to achieve proper drying of wood on your own - this difficult process, requiring both time, and a suitable place, and competent organization.

Choice of fasteners

• The plywood floor is good because it is easy to repair by replacing the sheets. Therefore, as fasteners - only self-tapping screws (for wood).
• Since any floor is necessarily subjected to wet cleaning, the hardware must be stainless steel. There are enough galvanized self-tapping screws on sale.
• Leg length. It is selected depending on the thickness of the plywood sheets and should exceed it by about 2.5 times - this general rule for work related to fixing materials on the basis.

Plywood floor on logs - work procedure

Foundation preparation

The main goal is to eliminate defects in the floor and ensure its high-quality waterproofing. If the floor is arranged along the logs in a new house, then the task is greatly simplified. It is enough just to lay a p / e film (thickened) on the base with the expectation that its edges wrap onto the walls, and fix the sections with construction tape. The excess above the floor - the height of the lag + the thickness of the plywood sheets + another 2 - 3 cm. The protruding film will subsequently be covered with a plinth.

If the leveling of the subfloor is carried out in an already inhabited room, then there are two possible options.

• Complete dismantling of the entire structure and work from scratch.
• Removing the flooring (with the lag remaining) and waterproofing the floor with penetrating compounds.

The feasibility of a particular solution is determined by the state of the lag and the base on which the installation is carried out.

Installation of the supporting frame

Many questions arise regarding the interval between lags. Partially about what needs to be taken into account (plywood thickness, room area, installation scheme) has already been said. But the main criterion is the dimensions of the sheets. They are laid on logs so that the cuts coincide with the longitudinal axis of the guide.

Therefore, you should focus on the distance between the lags within half a meter. If it is required in some areas, then additional logs are mounted. Actually, the drawing is also drawn up in order to determine their optimal placement in the room. Eventually Basic structure should look something like this.

What to consider:

• A wooden “shoe” is placed under each rail (from pieces of MDF, OSV, fiberboard, trimming a thin board). It is easy to fix it on the ceiling. What is the advantage of such a solution? Firstly, there will be good air circulation under the plywood floor, which will partially prevent the formation of mold. Secondly, with this method of installation, it is easier to align the upper sections of the log.
• Work begins at opposite walls. Along each, with an indent of 3 ± 0.5 cm, one log is laid. They align in horizontal plane, and further serve as a guide for the installation of the rest.
• To achieve maximum alignment of the lag with your own hands, it is advisable to make special device. The device is simple - a long rail, in the middle part of which a level (building) is fixed. Even better is to buy (or rent) a level. Then there won't be any error.

Floor insulation

From the point of view of "easier, faster, cheaper" - pour expanded clay between the lags or lay mats mineral wool. The work is so simple that it is not worth considering this issue in more detail.

At the same stage, laying engineering communications(if necessary) - TV lines, Internet and so on.

Fixing plywood sheets

Work feature:

• First, a “fitting” layout of the sheets is done. After they are aligned and adjusted, the installation points of the fasteners are marked.
• Each sheet is additionally processed (edges are cut at an angle) and holes for self-tapping screws are drilled.
• Countersink. It is mandatory, since the fastener caps must be recessed into plywood after screwing it in.
• Placement of sheets. They are mounted one at a time, starting from any of the corners of the room. After alignment with the lags, it is advisable to make “channels” in the beam with a thinner drill. Then the leg of the self-tapping screw will enter the wood quite easily. If the installation is carried out with a screwdriver, then this can be neglected. The main thing is that the fasteners "went" strictly vertically, without distortions.

The figure shows an approximate scheme of their laying.

What to consider:

• The placement of self-tapping screws depends on the dimensions of the plywood. Mandatory fastening - around the perimeter of the sample. But the additional fixation is determined by its size. For large-format sheets - according to the scheme crosswise, for small fragments it is enough only in the center.

• To reduce the so-called “shat” of sheets, it is worth putting strips of roofing material under them (on the logs).
• Plywood is laid so that when it is joined, the bevels form a groove. It is easily filled with sealant, completely closing the resulting gap. This increases the hydro, heat and sound insulation of the floor.
• To mask the hats of fasteners, special compounds are also used. They are on sale in various colors. If the plywood is varnished, then it is not difficult to match it to the tone.

If plywood is laid in two layers, then its fastening is done as follows.

The final stage is the cleaning of all joints. As a rule, it is enough to go over the seams with sandpaper to remove excess dried sealant. And then - according to the plan: coating with varnish or paint, finishing other materials. The main thing is that the plywood floor is completely ready.

Both in new buildings and in houses commissioned several decades ago, residents are faced with the task of leveling the floor to change the floor covering, whether it be linoleum, parquet or parquet board, laminate or something else. But the modern market offers such a wide range that it is sometimes difficult to give preference to one or another building material.

The purpose of this article is to dispel all doubts and help you make a balanced, reasonable choice before starting repairs in own house or apartment.

Features: pros and cons

Of the variety of materials suitable for these purposes, the choice comes down to four of them:

1. plywood;

When choosing flooring for leveling the floor, you need to take into account the features of each.

• fiberboard- material from compressed wood fibers, pre-treated with steam. Synthetic resins or paraffin are used as a binder. The production technology does not allow making fiberboard thick, and the raw materials used (most often these are wood processing wastes) to achieve satisfactory strength. Of the entire list, plates of this kind are the most fragile. Moreover, if rough surface has significant, and even more so local solid protrusions, for example, an influx of concrete or a piece of reinforcement sticking out of the screed, this species material can be damaged even at the marking stage.

• DSP- slabs of chips of small and medium fractions, bound by cement. In addition, a number of chemical additives are added to the composition to reduce negative impact chips for cement. At the same time, DSPs have a higher density, and hence more weight with the same area. They are quite fragile to fracture, although somewhat stronger than fiberboard, while being more resistant to moisture, heat, and much less susceptible to mold fungus.

• OSB- a board made of large chips, bonded with phenolic-based resins. It is important to remember that at enterprises with incomplete quality control, the production technology may be violated, then the release of phenols may exceed the permissible limits.
• Plywood- the most environmentally friendly of this list. Technically, it consists of several layers of birch (rarely coniferous) veneer glued together. Has a relatively low specific gravity, and surpasses all other materials from this list in strength.

For a number of reasons, it is plywood that is much more convenient to use for repairs:

• Saving time. In addition to the usual formats of 1.5x1.5 meters, sizes of 2.5x1.25 meters and 3x1.5 meters are also made - a large area can be covered in one time.
• Saving effort. Even a leaf big size can be carried by one person.
• Elasticity. Adjacent veneer layers are oriented perpendicularly, providing strength in all directions. This quality will provide higher wear resistance both during installation and during floor operation.

• Elasticity. If there are some local irregularities of the subfloor in this place, the sheet will be washed without much loss, and this area will remain flush with the rest. Due to the elasticity, the material will not crumble or crack either during installation or during operation.
• Environmental friendliness. In most cases, natural resins or adhesives are used on natural basis which improves environmental and consumer safety.
• Porosity. Due to its natural origin, this provides ventilation, which will prevent decay of the lower surface of the finished floor.

cited brief characteristics quite enough to make an unambiguous conclusion: a plywood floor is better than a floor made of OSB-plate, DSP or fiberboard in a number of properties.

Which one to choose?

For rough work, there is no need to select top grades. Moreover, the third grade is also suitable for repairs (according to current standards, there is also a fourth grade, but it is almost never found on the market) - for the set goals given choice optimal. Small irregularities, roughness needs to be cleaned with sandpaper or cut with a knife.

Of course, if there are obvious geometric violations, “curled like a screw” or, as the builders also say, “behaved”, as well as sheets with obviously not right angles, such options are not applicable.

When buying, it is also important to check if there was any damage during storage - for the absence of chips, kinks, damp areas, traces of the vital activity of rodents, insects or mold.

Many repairmen determine the quality of the sheet literally by smell - undamaged material has a noble woody smell with barely noticeable notes of glue.

You can often hear from sellers the classification designation according to international standard ISO (and sometimes, according to their own quality system, up to “TBS grade F-1”), so you need to clarify the grade according to Russian GOST, or, looking at the packaging, the grade of the product must be noted.

Perhaps part of the material will go to waste, so it is better to purchase with a small margin, about 5-10%.

As for thickness, builders are guided simple rule- the thicker the better. Indeed, a thicker substrate can hide larger defects. In this case, you should not overdo it, the minimum is 8 mm, the recommended one is from 14 to 22 mm. In any case, the underlay must not be thinner than the final floor covering.

It is preferable to use sheets large sizes, but if their transportation or laying is difficult, smaller dimensions can be used.

Some stores may offer cutting to more convenient for transportation.

What to process?

In order not to reduce the quality in the future, it is enough to carry out a simple preliminary processing.

This step consists of a few simple steps.

• Drying. Before starting repairs, plywood must be brought into a dry, warm room and kept for at least a week (ideally, two to three weeks). This will save her from excess moisture, which she could absorb during transportation and storage. Such a long drying time is due to its structure - moisture that has penetrated into the deeper layers evaporates much more slowly than from the surface layers.

• Biosecurity. To avoid the multiplication of destructive microflora, you can soak at least the outer layers with antiseptic solutions. This will save residents from the musty smell of dampness if water seeps from above or condensation accumulates from concrete.
• Airing. After antiseptic treatment, withstand at least a day. Of course, while maintaining minimal gaps.
• Add moisture resistance can be applied in one or two layers of acrylic-based varnish.

Preparatory stage

At least two days before the start of work, plywood must be brought into the room where the repair will be carried out. The workpieces must be laid horizontally, allowed to “rest”, relieve excess stress in the structure caused by storage in a vertical position.

The floor must be prepared: remove the old plinth, remove all debris, dust, knock down the irregularities of the concrete and cut off the protruding parts of the reinforcement, soak with an antiseptic solution.

If flooring is performed without a log, the concrete surface must be leveled, if possible, with a cement-sand mortar, then apply a primer and allow to dry. Cement-sand mortar seizes for several days, allocating all this time in environment excess moisture so it's best to start preparing early.

If the height differences during the level check turned out to be large, it is necessary to perform a screed or lay logs to compensate for irregularities.

If laying is carried out on top of old boards, inspect their condition. Rotten or crumbling areas must be replaced, creaking or staggering - fixing. On the wooden base you also need to apply a primer, antiseptic and dry.

On the next step you need to lay out the sheets as they will subsequently be fixed. Compensation gaps should be provided: between the elements 3-4 mm, from the wall 8-10 mm, this will avoid swelling if the temperature or humidity conditions change.

In the process of cutting, it is necessary to coat the ends of the sheets with glue in order to avoid their cracking in the future.

Mark the workpieces, while indicating the orientation of the workpieces in one direction, either with the inscription itself or with an arrow. For example, indicate the row with a letter, the number with a number, that is, A1 is the first element in the first row. This will help avoid confusion in the future. For convenience, you can sketch a laying scheme on paper.

It is worth avoiding cases when the corners of four neighboring fragments converge at one point. In other words, lay out the workpieces "in a row", as in brickwork.

Materials and tools

For installation, you will need the following tool:

• Electric jigsaw. It is unlikely that it will be possible to cover the floor with solid sheets, and, perhaps, when the angle formed by the floor and the wall is not perfectly even, it may be necessary curly cutting. In addition, it will be necessary to bypass the riser pipes at their exit points. For these purposes a circular saw much less suitable, as it allows only a straight cut.
• Building level. A level at least 2 meters long is preferred, as a shorter tool will not allow you to notice unevenness at long distances.
• Roulette and pencil. After preliminary unfolding, carry out the necessary marking and marking before cutting.

• Construction knife.
• Screwdriver with a bit suitable for the fasteners used.
• Vacuum cleaner or broom.
• Facilities personal protection: durable gloves, glasses, knee pads, if necessary - headphones (ear plugs).

From additional materials:

1. Self-tapping screws (self-tapping screws) - if laying on logs or an old wooden floor. Fasteners are selected according to a simple formula - the thickness of the fixed element is multiplied by three. For example, if the sheet is 20 mm, then the length of the self-tapping screw is at least 60 mm. In this case, the screw should not be longer than the total thickness of the flooring and the wooden base.
2. Dowels corresponding to self-tapping screws - if mounting on concrete or screed.
3. Wood glue (usual PVA is most often used) or "liquid nails".
4. Sealant (polyizol).

Mounting methods

Depending on the condition of the repaired premises, apply different methods installation of the rough base:

• over a concrete floor (or screed);
• over an old wooden floor;
• on the lags.

Based on this, one or another mounting technology is used.

On the old floor

The technology of laying plywood on old floor boards is quite simple. In your own house or apartment, it is quite feasible to do these works with your own hands. After carrying out all the preparatory activities, you need to spread and cut the substrate. It is important to avoid laying "overlap", preferring "butt" so as not to add bumps. Fasten the joints of the seal with a wide adhesive tape, cut off the excess.

Then proceed to the layout according to a pre-drawn plan, observing the markings. Start from the corner, gradually expanding the "spot" in both directions.

The elements are screwed with self-tapping screws, retreating from the edge of at least 2 cm, and with a step between the attachment points of not more than 20 cm, sinking the hat.

How to lay on logs?

For the log, a beam of coniferous wood is selected, with a section of at least 50x50 mm. Preference should be given to dried timber without visible violations of geometry (not twisted “into a screw” and without bends along the longitudinal axis), without chips and other mechanical damage.

To isolate wooden elements from dampness from below, before laying them, it is advisable to lay a preliminary insulation (polyizol), fastening the seams with adhesive tape.

It will be correct to start laying logs from the highest point selected using the level. It is important to keep the beam laying step uniform, 50 - 60 cm, no more.

Plywood on the floor should take into account the peculiarity of the base flooring. Plywood is one of the most commonly used finishing materials, which is used, among other things, to sheathe the surfaces of walls, ceilings, and floors. This material is characterized by low thermal conductivity, resistance to deformation, low cost, and can also have varying degrees of moisture resistance and have high decorative properties, depending on the variety. How to properly lay plywood on a wooden floor, and what materials should be used for this - read on.

Features of laying plywood

The modern flooring market offers a wide range of finishing materials. As a rule, everything floor coverings for living rooms require a perfectly flat base. For example, laminate cork, parquet, etc. must be laid on a pre-leveled wooden floor. A level base for the final floor covering can be created using plywood sheets.

When choosing the size and type of plywood for mounting the base for the floor finish, you should consider such parameters as:

1. Humidity level. Plywood brand FC is suitable for the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. For the rest of the rooms, plywood is used that does not emit toxic resins of the FBA brand.
2. What is the thickness of the plywood sheets. The plywood sheet must have a thickness that must be equal to the thickness of the final coating, i.e. from 10 mm.
3. economy finishing material. To level the floor, you can use ordinary unpolished plywood.

plywood laying process

It should be noted that the undoubted advantages of leveling the floor with plywood sheets include the low cost of this method, due to the relatively low cost of plywood. In addition, a wide standard size range and assortment of plywood allow you to choose exactly the type of material that is needed for a given room, taking into account temperature and humidity conditions. Floor leveling plywood is one of the most practical, inexpensive and easy-to-use materials.

Laying plywood on a wooden floor: how to work

Before the final laying of a row of floor coverings, the floor must be leveled. To do this, you can successfully use plywood. In general, the steps involved in laying plywood before laying the final coat are not difficult. The plank base is leveled by cutting a layer of board.

Putting sheets of plywood correctly should be in a checkerboard pattern, i.e. simultaneous joining of no more than 3 seams is allowed.

Plywood sheets should be laid, observing technological gaps. So, the gap between the laid plywood sheets should be 2-3 mm, and between the walls and plywood - at least 1 cm. further preserved in the final coating and decorated with an insert.

Plywood sheets should be laid, observing technological gaps

To screw plywood sheets:

• Self-tapping screws are used;
• Self-tapping screws are located at a distance of 15-20 mm from the edge of the sheet;
• Mounting comes in increments of 25 to 30 cm.

Installation of plywood using self-tapping screws is carried out so that the heads of the self-tapping screws are recessed into the surface of the sheet. The number of screws is approximately 5-6 pcs. per 1 m2. It is also necessary to fasten self-tapping screws diagonally on each sheet. Leveling the floor with plywood, according to various sources, can be carried out with floor level differences of no more than 6 cm. In general, to create flat surface gender, use different kinds plywood, up to 18 mm thick.

How to lay plywood on a wooden floor: an algorithm of actions

Home renovations often involve replacing old flooring. Often there is no need to pluck the wood floors, but you can replace and renew the flooring with plywood. Laying plywood on an old plank floor with a difference in its level within 6 cm can be done in a simple way.

First you need to remove the old paintwork from the floor.

Next, the plinths are torn off and all the places of their fastening are upholstered. The height of the door is adjusted taking into account the designed floor level. To level the differences in the floor, into the boards, according to the size of the plywood sheet, it is necessary to screw in the self-tapping screws in a checkerboard pattern to a given depth. As a result, the heads of the screws must be at the same height, which is set laser level. Therefore, you should choose in advance which screws the work will be carried out with - these are self-tapping screws of various lengths, but having the same slot for a screwdriver. Self-tapping screws are screwed strictly vertically into the boards in increments of 0.25-0.3 m.

Observing the technology of laying plywood sheets, you can get a perfectly flat floor

1. The surface of the floor is wetted with water.
2. Mounting foam is applied along the perimeter at the wall-floor joints along the boards.
3. Also, in a checkerboard pattern with a step of 10-15 cm, the foam is applied in islands to the boards according to the size of the plywood sheet. The height of the foam island should roughly match the height of the nearest screw. Thus, it is as if a pillow-base is created for laying plywood.
4. On the screws and foam, you need to put a sheet of plywood. This method laying allows you to get a perfectly flat plywood floor.
5. The technological gaps between the walls and the plywood sheet should be within 10-15 mm, and between the plywood sheets - 4.4 mm.

It should be noted that, as a rule, this technology of laying plywood sheets allows you to get a perfectly flat and durable floor. In some cases, to relieve stress in a plywood sheet, before laying the sheets, they should be cut into 4 equal parts each.

Is a plywood underlay required on a wooden floor?

The quality characteristics of plywood sheets directly depend on the grade and the components used in the production of this finishing material (grades of wood, synthetic resins, etc.). It is these factors that determine which plywood on the floor will be used to create a quality coating.

In the role of materials that can be placed under plywood on a plank floor, "breathable" materials should be used that have the following properties:

• Provide ventilation of the wooden floor;
• Do not experience temperature and humidity deformations;
• Creates a level base for laying plywood.

Underlayment under plywood provides ventilation of the wooden floor

As a general rule, for laying plywood on a plank floor, no special underlay is required, as the plywood floor levels the floor and itself serves as the base for the final floor covering. When laying plywood sheets with mastic, the following technological clearances should be observed - 1-2 cm between the wall and plywood sheets. To compensate for temperature and humidity deformations, the gap between glued plywood sheets should be 1.8-3.1 mm.

There are cases when the surface of the floor boards is quite even. In this case, you can glue the plywood sheets to the ceiling with polyvinyl acetate mastic.

Plywood sheets can be glued with mastic

The work flow is as follows:

1. The mastic should be applied in a thick layer using a notched trowel (1.1-3 mm teeth).
2. For better adhesion of plywood sheets to the flooring, the back of the plywood sheet should be treated thin layer epoxy glue, and then cover with a layer of coarse sand or other crushed natural material having a grain size of 1.8-2.8 mm.
3. Polyvinyl acetate mastic should be applied only after complete drying and curing of the epoxy adhesive.

Thus, with the help of plywood sheets, it is possible to solve a number of problems that arise during the operation of plank flooring (repair or replacement of the floor). It should be added that the flooring of plywood sheets in a certain way also allows you to compensate for significant differences in the level of the floors, for example, an old plank floor (up to 6 cm).

Substrate for plywood on a wooden floor (video)

In conclusion, we note that the use of plywood provides for fastening sheets different ways, including the use of adhesive materials. However, when working with plywood materials, one should not forget about the necessary technological gaps that ensure further correct operation of the resulting multi-layer floor covering.

Innovative technologies for decorating rooms today have also affected floor coverings. The most commonly used material for this is laminate, cork, parquet board. Such coatings require a perfectly flat surface, so the technology that considers the question of how to properly lay plywood on a wooden floor is more relevant than ever.

Plywood as a leveling material wooden floors has many beneficial benefits.

Material advantages:

1. Low cost of purchasing material.
2. Due to the peculiarities of the manufacturing technology, during which the layers of plywood are laid perpendicular to each other during production, the material receives high level strength.
3. Plywood sheets can have a large format, due to this you can greatly facilitate and speed up the process of covering large areas.
4. Due to the excellent flexibility, the material can be bent without getting damaged.
5. Does not create problems with storage and transportation.
6. Unpretentiousness in operation.

Material laying features

The laying procedure becomes especially relevant when the plank floor dries out, loosens and becomes unsuitable for further use. Using plywood you will save not only cash costs, but also your efforts.

Features of working with plywood:

1. Before laying plywood on a wooden floor, check to see if it sags at the joist placement. If this happens, you must perform a complete disassembly of the coating and repair the underlying wooden floor. If there are no problems with the lags, then you can start laying plywood directly on a wooden base.
2. Plywood should not be laid in rooms where there is a sharp change in temperature or a high level of humidity. Unheated rooms and bathrooms are not suitable for laying this material.

Note! In order to find out how high the level of humidity of your floor is, it is necessary to tightly lay a polyethylene sheet with parameters of 100x100 cm on its surface and leave it to lie in this position for at least three days. After this period, look at inside polyethylene, if you do not find condensation there - the floor is suitable for laying plywood.

1. Plywood is laid in such a way that the sheets move slightly. As a result, at least three seams should converge at one point. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to adjust some sheets to the parameters of your room. Such nuances can be caused by the presence of a niche or ledges in the room. Between plywood sheets, as well as in the area near the wall, it is imperative to leave gaps. Subsequently, these distances will be covered with skirting boards or sealed.
2. In order to facilitate your work and not confuse with the placement of sheets after cutting them, plywood should be numbered and a plan for its laying should be drawn up.
3. by the most convenient size a square with sides of 0.6 m is considered. Using plywood of this format, you can provide yourself required amount damper seams and at the same time reveal delaminations that are invisible on solid plywood sheets.

1. Before you start laying plywood, you need to prepare the floor surface, remove traces of dirt and dust, apply a primer layer.
2. Plywood sheets are laid on the adhesive composition. Otherwise, you will have to fix the material with self-tapping screws, not only along the edges, but also along the diagonals in increments of 20 cm. You need to step back a couple of centimeters from the edges. Self-tapping screws must be well recessed.
3. The length of the fasteners must be at least three times greater than the thickness of the plywood sheets. For example, with a sheet thickness of 1.2 cm, you will need to take self-tapping screws 4 cm long.
4. After the laying is completed, the surface must be sanded using a parquet sander and sandpaper with large grains.

If you want to learn more about how to lay plywood on a wooden floor, the video review below describes all the nuances of this procedure.

Cutting plywood and installing a log

Cutting plywood is carried out to fit the sheets to the parameters of the room. As for the damper joints, the gap between the sheets should be at least 4 mm and one centimeter at the walls. If you ignore this nuance, subsequently, when temperature changes occur in the room, the floor surface will begin to deform and swell.

After cutting the material, check the end pieces. In places where incisions are made, delamination and other defects usually occur.

Note! If plywood sheet corrupted, don't use it.

All sheets cut according to the size of the room must be placed on the floor in the order of their further fixing. It is not necessary to achieve a joint at four corners, it is better to take the technology of placing bricks as a basis. In places where a joint of plywood sheets is formed, a lag should pass.

The logs themselves should have a thickness of 3-4 cm, they are fixed with an adhesive composition intended for wood. You can also use self-tapping screws. During the installation of the lag, gaps may form between them and the floor, which must be closed with pieces of plywood of the appropriate thickness. To do this, the sheet is lubricated on both sides adhesive composition and placed in the right place.

The procedure also looks like if you get inaccuracies in height. Be sure to control the horizontal placement of the lag using the building level, because it will depend on how even your floor will be. In the space that forms between the lags, sealing material should be placed.

Before fixing the plywood on the logs, it does not hurt to treat all the sheets with an antiseptic.

Plywood on wooden floors in the house allows you to level the base without dismantling the old wood flooring. The substrate in this case prevents squeaking and other problems that may arise. The technology allows you to do the installation yourself without serious difficulties.

The choice of material for the production of work

Laying plywood on wood floor perfect solution. This do-it-yourself rough coating has the following advantages:

• low cost;
• ease of transportation;
• time reduction preparatory work;
• good leveling of small floor defects and increase the service life of the floor covering;
• strength and wear resistance of the material;
• flexibility, which allows not to break and not crack during operation and installation;
• the minimum number of joints between sheets;
• installation is carried out without serious labor costs.

Classification of plywood types

Before laying the material with your own hands, you need to choose it correctly. There are several classifications according to various criteria:

• by grade and type of raw materials used (wood);
• impregnation (its presence and method);
• grade;
• surface treatment method;
• number of layers;
• moisture resistance.

Laying plywood on a wooden floor in a house (rough coating) involves the following recommendations for choosing when doing do-it-yourself work:

• the flooring is made of sheets of the second or third grade, the use of the first is not justified from an economic point of view;
• in the house it is best to use moisture-resistant material, this is especially important when installation is carried out in wet areas (bathroom, bathroom, kitchen);
• flooring involves the use of sheets of a minimum thickness of 10 mm, but this is only suitable for small spaces with low traffic;
• laying technology in more critical premises suggests that the substrate under the finished floor will be made of a material with a thickness of 14-22 mm, such sheets have sufficient strength;
• it is recommended to choose materials sanded on both sides (if possible).

Preparatory work

Wood floor preparation

Before laying plywood on a wooden floor in a house, the flooring and surface must be prepared. Do-it-yourself activities are as follows:

• the base for the installation of plywood must be cleaned of debris, dirt and treated with antiseptic compounds; when laying without a log, it will be necessary to perform priming;
• checking the condition of the floor, removing and replacing damaged elements;
• if there is time, it is recommended to arrange the sheets vertically and dry them for 2-3 weeks, while the temperature should be at room temperature or slightly higher;
• after drying, the sheets are treated with antiseptic compounds;
• further it is necessary to ventilate the material;
• if there is a need to increase strength, it is worth processing plywood acrylic varnish, the coating is made in several layers;
• when laying with your own hands, you need to bring the sheets into the room in two days and lay them out horizontally, this is done so that the material adapts to the temperature and humidity conditions of the room.

Methods of work

Installation in the house can be done in two ways:

• laying on an old wooden floor (suitable for a small height difference);
• installation on logs (with differences of 1 cm or more).

Leveling the old floor

Installation of plywood on wood flooring

In this case, plywood can be fastened in three ways:

• glue;
• liquid Nails;
• self-tapping screws.

It is worth noting that the latter option provides the most reliable fastening of sheets than laying on glue. Adhesives can be water based, two-component, also use mounting glue or bustilat.

Mounting on glue is carried out in the following order. After completing the preparatory work, the floors are checked by level. If the vertical difference is less than 1 cm, then the method described below can be used. To compensate for irregularities with their own hands, a plywood substrate is used, the joints of which are glued with adhesive tape.

Plywood layout options

Next, you need a layout of sheets, which will allow you to most rationally cut the source material. The plywood is preliminarily laid out taking into account the seams for the expansion of the material under load and with temperature fluctuations (damper seams are 3-4 mm). Leave 8-10 mm between the wall and the subfloor.

Having laid out the sheets, the elements are sawn electric jigsaw to the required sizes. If installation is required for large room, apply squares with a side of 50-60 cm. All parts of the coating must be numbered in the order in which they must be laid later.

When fastening to self-tapping screws, holes are drilled in the sheets, which are then countersinked using a larger drill. When laying on glue, it will also be wise to do additional mount. The holes are located at a distance of 2 cm from the edge of the part. The step between the fasteners is taken equal to 15-20 cm.

The production of works begins with such elements as niches, ledges, raised podiums.

It is necessary, when attaching to glue and in other ways, to place the elements of the subfloor with dressing. It looks like brickwork, that is, each subsequent row is mounted with an offset relative to the previous one. The easiest way is to shift half the sheet. The minimum offset is 10 cm.

The glue is applied in an even layer 2-3 mm thick on the base. After laying the sheets, they are pressed down with a roller. In order to ensure greater reliability and prevent displacement when mounting on glue, self-tapping screws are used.

The procedure for laying plywood sheets

After fixing, the sheets are ground with a special machine with a coarse emery nozzle.. Evenness rough coating checked by the rule (with a rail at least 2 meters long). It is applied to the surface and the fit is checked. The gaps between the tool and the surface when laying on the adhesive should be no more than 2 mm.

Laying on lags

Laying plywood on joists

This method is more laborious, but allows you to eliminate significant defects in the base. When cleaning and checking the old coating Special attention is given to the seams between the floorboards. If necessary, they are spilled with adhesive to prevent problems (creaking).

Cutting sheets for the floor along the lags is performed in the same way as in the previous case. First of all, you need to fix the lags - wooden planks section 40 by 15 mm. Elements are laid on the old coating in one direction. The step is selected based on the size of the plywood sheets. It is necessary to make sure that the seam between the elements falls on wooden lath.

Installation instructions for plywood sheets on logs

When installing the floor on the logs, the boards are fixed on wooden floor self-tapping screws. Fastening sheets to the guides is done in the same way. Soundproofing material is laid along the lags (between them). Most often, a heater is used for this. If it is necessary to lay communications, then they are placed in a layer of thermal insulation.

It is most reliable to attach the sheets to the guides for self-tapping screws, but liquid nails can also be used. Holes for fasteners are pre-drilled in the same way as when laying without a lag (observing the same requirements). Next, the surface is processed in the manner described above (grinding).

With proper installation, you can not worry about the durability of the finish coating and the creaking of the floors. It does not really matter which method is chosen: by lags or without them. It is important to do the work in accordance with the technology.