A beautiful shock starts with a stable subfloor. OSB provides a dependable, hardy foundation garment for squeak-free, neat floor systems—provided a few simple facility best practices are followed .
hera are nine common subfloor facility mistakes and how to prevent them :
1. Improper spacing.
To avoid buckle, subfloor panels should be spaced with a 1/8-inch gap at all edges and ends to provide room for naturally occurring expansion. Tongue-and-groove edges on many premium floor panels, such as Weyerhaeuser ’ s Edge Gold® OSB panels, are designed to self-gap.
2. Using green joists.
Wet lumber may lead to dimensional changes as the joists dry, resulting in smash pops and shock squeaks. Use Trus Joist® TJI® joists or kiln-dried, performance-tested lumber, such as Weyerhaeuser Framer Series® lumber, which is more dimensionally stable than green lumber .
3. Not letting a subfloor dry.
Always store floor panels under cover. OSB exposed during construction must be allowed to dry ( particularly before installing medium finish materials such as hardwood deck ). Edge Gold includes patented Down Pore®grooves that avail shed standing water and a proprietorship edge seal to reduce border well up .
4. Improper nailing.
To avoid pinpoint pops, pullouts, and shiners ( nails that barely hit the joist ), all of which can cause squeaks, use the correct nail size and spacing, and ensure the nails penetrate the floor joists and sink in full. by and large, nails ( 6d closed chain or screw shank, or 8d coarse ) should be spaced 6 inches on plaza along subscribe dialog box edges and 12 inches on center on the panels ’ interior supports, or ampere specified on the construction drawings. many manufacturers print a fastener template directly on the panel boldness. For panels thicker than 1 inch, 10d nails should be used .
5. Forgoing glue.
A glue-nailed construction technique is optimum for ensuring a two-dimensional, stable floor. Use a solvent-based glue that meets ASTM D3498 performance standards ; in cases where latex subfloor glue is required, careful excerpt is necessary due to the broad range of operation between brands.
Read more: Pole Barn Purlins Installation Guide
6. Improper glue application.
Apply glue per manufacturer ’ south specifications. Be certain the joists are dry and release of dirt before applying. many manufacturers recommend applying a continuous ¼-inch-diameter glue bead to framing members and using a serpentine form for supports that are 3½ inches or across-the-board. Apply two beads of glue to panel articulation locations ; a 1/8-inch glue bead applied at the tongue-and-groove joints can further improve floor performance .
7. Letting glue dry.
If the glue develops a clamber, it will lose some of its military capability or may not bond at all. Apply merely adequate glue for one or two panels at a time, and completely fasten each panel before the glue is set. Check manufacturer specification for setting times, and keep in mind that warm weather can accelerate those times .
8. Hammering edges.
Using a maul to force a tongue and groove joint together tightly can crush the wood fibers, damaging both the gore hit equally well as the one it is forced into. Further, it can close up the necessary gap on panel edges, leading to improper spacing issues mentioned above. Some premium panels, such as Edge Gold, are designed to fit together easily. If extra force is needed, always use a block of wood against the groove edge to minimize price to the panel, and constantly allow a 1/8-inch gap between panels .
9. Forgetting to check your work.
Prior to finished floor initiation, walk the subfloor to check for squeaks, missing fasteners, improper smash, etc.
bare strategies such as these can help provide flooring systems that are hardy, stable, and squeak-free. For more detail instructions and for tips on how to repair screaky floors, download “ Prevention and Repair of Floor Squeaks ” here .
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JODY DEDMON
Jody Dedmon has spent more than 25 years with Weyerhaeuser, a majority of them within the OSB division. In his current function as Market Development Manager, Jody applies in-depth cognition of OSB fabrication, initiation practices, and market trends ; leads a team of OSB Market Development Representatives ; conducts training throughout the channel ; and lends his extensive expertness to fresh product development and implementation .