I’m gutting up my floors and plan to level from the beams and put down a new subfloor. Is CDX 3/4″ fine for the subfloor ?
I plan to use BC for the kitchen area since that area will be tiled.
I’m gutting up my floors and plan to level from the beams and put down a new subfloor. Is CDX 3/4″ fine for the subfloor ?
I plan to use BC for the kitchen area since that area will be tiled.
Fine Homebuilding is excited to be the official media partner of the 2024 Building Science Symposium series! This event offers builders, tradesmen, architects, designers and suppliers to discuss topics ranging…
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Fine Homebuilding
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
© 2024 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.
Start Your Free TrialStart your subscription today and save up to 70%
SubscribeGet complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.
Already a member? Log in
Replies
Yes. Just block the edges if it's not T&G.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
> I plan to use BC for the kitchen area since that area will be tiled.
What kind of tile? I'm guessing vinyl, because you're using BC.
-- J.S.
You could use cdx, a better choice would be T&G plywood,OSB or Advantec.The last three are T&G products,Osb the least expensive, Advantec is my personal choice ,though most expensive of the former choices.
mike
I forgot to mention , use a subfloor adhesive on the joists, helps eliminate squeaks.
mike
Thanks guys.
Are these more *sound* - sturdier floors as opposed to the CDX due to the knots ?I thought BC was a good substrate for tile ? I may or may not use a CBU ontop of the subfloor where the tile is.... What would the recommended grade be for tile then ?
concrete backer board or ditra.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I hear ya Jeff. All I'm saying is that there still needs to be a subfloor under CBU or Ditra...It was my understanding that BC is better than CDX as a subfloor in this area due to the voids in the outer and inner plys .....I will look into the other plys that the others have recommended but BC seems to be the most $$ board the local lumberyard stocks here in Brooklyn, NYC.Lowes and HD carry the SturdiFloor product and the BC rated is $2 more than the SturdIfloor. I did not take a close look but the SIF looked like it was CD as well..
I see ...
less voids can't hurt.
but the real solution is to get enough wood under the backer.
usually 3/4 + 1/2 .... then backer.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Chefwong....No...cdx is not suitable for subfloor unless it part of a two floor system.
BC is probably not a good choice for tile either depending on what you mean by tile. Tile could be ashpalt or ceramic.
The cdx would be suitable for subflooring under ceramic tile, if you are going to put down a "dry pack" mud base. We used to lay 1/2 cdx subfloors all the time in my apprentice years. Over that, they lay either the mud base for ceramic or 5/8" particle board subfloors for carpeting. The latter was called a two floor system.
The two floor system gave way to the one floor system sometime in the early 80's. Instead of 1/2" cdx subflloors, we went to a 3/4 t&G system. The toungue and groove system is critical under carpeting to keep someone from stepping down on one side of a seam and ripping the fibers in the carpeting. The seams would show up in less than a year without the t and g system.
The t and g plywood "underlayments" also have other critical components. The top two layers of the plywood are plugged and sanded. This prevents a lady with high heeled spike style shoes from puncturing through the carpeting into a void. Again, this would damage the carpeting or might even pose a trip hazard. Also the glues in the t&g plywoods are made of exterior properties so that they will be resistant to getting rained on. BC plywood will buckle in one rain. CDX will hold up but the knotholes are not suitable for underlayment puposes. If you block the ends to support the horizontal seams, you expose yourself to significantly more squeaks.
I'd rethink your options...
blue
Hey Guys -Sorry if I was not clear.
This is a remodel.
I have a roof under the house already.Joist are 16" OC.
Flooring ontop will be 3/4" Santos Mahogany Hardwood.The goal was leveling the floor - this ripping out the exisitng oak HW and pine planks. Sistering new boards to get level and then new 3/4" ply. So if the weather resistency is not an issue...is the CDX suitable or I should find some of the other plywood grades you guys have mentioned.
Edited 7/27/2006 12:53 am ET by chefwong