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I’m working in an attic space, building two new second story dormer rooms. I’m just finishing laying in the new sub-flooring: 3/4 t&g ply on 12′ 2X8’s 16oc.. Haven’t been able to find anything in some of the better Framing and Building books on proper spacing of the sheets. How wide a gap should I leave between sheets .. both on the t&g edges and on the blunt ends? This is, by the way, being put into a currently unheated space ..which will, of course, when all buttoned up, insulated, and heated never be as cold or moist again. But I’m working in the Pacific NW, not the East Coast, so we’re talking mid-40’s fahrenheit these days. Thanks!
Terry
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Okay --- well ... no responses here so I axed around by calling a couple o builders in town and the word was to go ahead and cinch 'em up tight .. not to worry about gapping for later expansion. This is a surprise to me as I always thought the idea was that floors could actually buckle some as they dry and are heated. But I guess I'll go ahead and kick 'em in tight together.
This job has been a LONG time coming for me -- many 'family obstacles' this year -- and I'm FINALLY getting some reliable momentum going on it. LOVE that feeling of the new (future) living space actually emerging in wood from one's mind and hands. Never get over that wonderful satisfaction.
terry
Don't really know why you didn't get any responses up to now. Sometimes topics like this develop into heated debates, other times they're basically ignored.
I've never known anyone that spaced plywood when they laid t&g.
I've never seen any problems develop from not spacing T&G on floors.
So I don't know of any reason to worry about it."... not every leader has an agenda aimed at doing good. Leadership often is an abused craft. . . Stalin, Hitler, Mao, and Al Capone . . . were, by definition, effective leaders." ["The Absolutes of Leadership" by Phillip B. Crosby]
Thanks BH .. appreciate the feedback. I hate feeling 'nervous' as I'm committing with the finallity of nails/screws to that stage of a project. It does helps to hear back that there's no reason for hesitation!
Thanks again,
Terry