Installing Luan Under Vinyl Floor (Flooring)

Installing Luan Under Vinyl Floor (Flooring)

Many Times people have asked me how best to install luan plywood under vinyl Floor as a subflooring material. Here is a quick rundown of steps you can follow for best results:

CDX Plywood


Luan Wood Video Series
Bending Luan Wood Video
Installing Luan Wood Video
Cutting and Installing Vinyl Over Luan
Installing Luan Over Subfloor
Laying laminate over Subfloor
Making Tile Flush With Subfloor
Attaching Luan To Subfloor
Working With Luan For Do It Yourselfers

Step 1.

Wipe clean the subfloor which will be covered with the luan plywood panels, and ensure that any dirt or residue has been cleaned throughly and that any splinters which pop up have been cleared and  removed. Once this first step has been completed properly, you can then determine the amount of luan wood which will be required to cover the floor. Luan plywood as a rule comes in sheets which measure 4 X 8 feet.

Start your work from the corner of the space you intend to cover, and apply adhesive stick on the floors as you place the luan wood. The adheasive will help maintain a smooth surface once your topfloor has been laid.

Step 2

Begin to set the luan plywood into place, leaving a space of 1/8 inch around the edge by the walls. Use screws or staples with a gun, to fasten the luan wood into place. Place staples or screws at every 6 inches around the outside of the sheet, and every 8 inches inside the sheet.

Offset the seams of the plywood board (luan) as you lay the material, this will ensure all the corners of the wood do not line up, and this will make your work appear seamless. Make sure the connections are random and they don't line up with the connectors in the subflooring.

Step 3

Mark the sheets as a measure so that they are staggered when laid, and fit into smaller area. Use a mechanical saw to cut edges which will be placed near the wall. Mak sure the cuts are clean to give  a tight fit at the corners and wall

Ensure the laun which has been laid is smooth in all areas, and doesnt have any raised staples or screws. Sand the surface if required before laying top flooring (vinyl or laminate)

Is Luan The Best For Floors?

Surprisingly, luan plywood can be used as flooring, when fully installed, and cut into planks or cut into square pieces. However the sheets should be glued down, with floor tape adhesive or glue, and then nailed throughout, or if you prefer, for appearance, you can just use the adhesive glue without nailing the flooring into place. You can screw the heads to make a tigher fit, however some believe this may make for a more unsightly project when the fasteners appear through the finished floor.


Luan, can be installed over solid, or smooth subfloors, like wood, or plywood, or concrete. Since luan is not very heavy, it can be used as flooring even though by most it is considered a temporary flooring option. It has been used on many do-it-yourself projects, which showcase this material as a great flooring option, however even though it has a nice appearance, it's durability is not that great.

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