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Installing Plywood over a subfloor

3K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  rusty baker 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello,
I have researched a lot on this topic but still seem quite confused.

I am installing LVT in my bathroom and I want it done properly so I pulled up the old sheet vinyl and old plywood. I believe it was luan.

There were so many staples left in the subfloor it would have taken me from China and back to pull them all out so I hammered most of them flush to the subfloor and pulled out the rusted ones-25 of them or so.

I am going to install new plywood, not luan, but unsure of what I can use to secure it to the subfloor. I bought 1 1/2 inch deck screws to do this. Are these too long if subfloor is 3/4 inch and plywood is 1/4 inch?

I don't want to go into the joists. I really don't want to staple this plywood and add another 1000 staples to my subfloor.

Also, what type of floor adhesive should I use? I'm reading that I need a specific kind of adhesive that allows for bending? Of the board as it's walked on and not a tight adhesive that can never be removed from the subfloor if I ever decide in 20 years to redo the bathroom floor again.

Should I leave any space between my plywood underlayment to allow for expansion? Any help would be appreciated. I'm finding some information out there but it is 5 years old or more. I just want to do things the right way and not have to spend more time redoing something that wasn't researched.
Thanks,
Hersh
 
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#2 ·
I use a narrow crown pneumatic staple gun. I can do a whole sheet in about 1 min. with it set on touch and go.
Best part I do not have to go back and fill every one of the holes.
Instead of screws if you do not want to use staples then use ring shanked underlaymant nails.
Glue is never used under the underlament!!
It's going to have to be fastened every 4" on the edges and every 6 to 8" in the field.
That's a whole lot of holes to have to go back and fill.
All the seams and any flaws also get filled.
 
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