Introduction to Luan Plywood:
Luan plywood is used as underlayment in home flooring. Many Times it is used with vinyl flooring when this is going to be installed as the finished resilient flooring. Underlayment Sometimes called Subflooring is generally too rough to attach right to vinyl flooring. Because subfloor is rough, such as concrete or cement used when a house is built, this material would appear right through the vinyl flooring if it were to be attached directly to the subfloor. Luan Plywood thus provides a smooth surface for application before the Vinyl is intalled.
1. Determine the size and area of the subflooring which will require cover. Divide this area by a square footage 32 which will help you to calculate the number of plywood luan sheets you will need. Allow time for the Luan to acclamate to the area in which it will be installed, this will prevent the luan wood for bubbling when it is attached to the subfloor.
2. Clear the subfloor of debris or dirt. Then remove any screws and nails that have appeared above the subfloor. You can then proceed to fill any gaps with filler or a patching compound.
3. Once complete, calcuate the amount of luan plywood which will be required and cut with saw, and ensure they are even with the walls. Fit the plywood (luan) to make sure that the calculations were correct. Lay the luan plywood perpendicular to the subflooring and leave a quarter inch gap between the cut edges and the walls. Leave 1/8 gapes between the sheets of luan and underlayment.
4. You can use adhesive with 1/8 inch to cover the area for the piece of luan underlayment. Install the luan wood with staples to the subfloor and underlayment. Ensure that the staples are flush with the underlayment. Then clear any splintered wood that remains. Install any additional luan wood that remains.
5. Fill any gaps in the luan wood underlayment with filler or thatching compound to create a smooth finish.
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Using Luan Plywood as (Sub) Flooring
If you are looking at an inexpesive way to do flooring, you can use Luan Subflooring, as Finished Flooring. The trick here is to cut the plywood sheets into tiles, about 4x4. You can also do it in 2x2' or 2x4'. This way it doesn't look like you just cheapened out and painted the subfloor. Make sure to properly sketch the layout of the room you plan to floor so you can make the proper adjust with regards to full plywood sheets, and those that you will have to specialty cut to create a uniform look around the room.
Great Tips For Bending Plywood
You don't need to pad between the subloor and the plywood, although I wouldn't recommend against it. (An acoustical foam underlay will help reduce noise). Lay the plywood sheets on top of the foam padding underlayment. Use glue and then use screws at the corners, as you lay the plywood. You can also use glue alone with no screws, however that might result in some curling of the plywood flooring, and of course you don't want that.
For the screws, you can spend a little bit of money, and get something different. You can use flat face screws, with 2 dimples. They are called tamper resistant screws, to be honest, I don't think the wood species matters. Once you have finished installing and screwing the plywood in, using wood putty or filler to fill the holes ad the sand it smooth.
Using plywood (luan/birch) as a top flooring is a unique and cost effective method for home improvement. Of course the cost cannot be beat, and you can throw down a mat or carpeting in high traffic areas, for example outside the kitchen or hallways.
Things to Remember when it comes to Plywood Flooring
There isn't going to be an isle in the home hardware or improvement store dedicated to Plywood Flooring, so you may have to think out of the box.
Materials to Use for Your Plywood (Luan/Birch) Flooring Project And Costing
6 sheets of five-ply 1/2-inch domestic Birch or Luan plywood for the flooring (less than $70 dollars)
3 sheets of three-ply 3/4-inch Baltic birch plywood for the trim (less than $100 dollars)
150 square feet of 1/8-inch acoustical foam underlay (under $30 dollars)
Handful of fasteners and 2 1/2-inch gold screws (under $10 dollars)
Wood putty or Filler (Under $10 dollars)
1 gallon of floor-grade polyurethane (under $50 dollars)
How to Cut Luan Plywood (Subflooring)
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
How to Bend Plywood
- Using a pencil, measure the cut which you intend to make into the Luan Plywood.
- Use a T-Square to connect the marks you made with the pencil to ensure their accuracy and straightness.
- Place the straight line of the pine, on the line of the C-Clamp, and use a plywood brick spacer on the underside of the Luan wood. - Connect the line with the pencils if not done so.
- Mark the line with a knife, use a circular saw, to complete the cut.
- Use a wood blade in a trim saw to complete the cut, make sure the blade has been placed securely.
- Sand the cut with medium grade sandpaper to finish the cut.
Using Luan Plywood as (Sub) Flooring
If you are looking at an inexpesive way to do flooring, you can use Luan Subflooring, as Finished Flooring. The trick here is to cut the plywood sheets into tiles, about 4x4. You can also do it in 2x2' or 2x4'. This way it doesn't look like you just cheapened out and painted the subfloor. Make sure to properly sketch the layout of the room you plan to floor so you can make the proper adjust with regards to full plywood sheets, and those that you will have to specialty cut to create a uniform look around the room.
Great Tips For Bending Plywood
You don't need to pad between the subloor and the plywood, although I wouldn't recommend against it. (An acoustical foam underlay will help reduce noise). Lay the plywood sheets on top of the foam padding underlayment. Use glue and then use screws at the corners, as you lay the plywood. You can also use glue alone with no screws, however that might result in some curling of the plywood flooring, and of course you don't want that.
For the screws, you can spend a little bit of money, and get something different. You can use flat face screws, with 2 dimples. They are called tamper resistant screws, to be honest, I don't think the wood species matters. Once you have finished installing and screwing the plywood in, using wood putty or filler to fill the holes ad the sand it smooth.
Using plywood (luan/birch) as a top flooring is a unique and cost effective method for home improvement. Of course the cost cannot be beat, and you can throw down a mat or carpeting in high traffic areas, for example outside the kitchen or hallways.
Things to Remember when it comes to Plywood Flooring
There isn't going to be an isle in the home hardware or improvement store dedicated to Plywood Flooring, so you may have to think out of the box.
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.
Using Luan Plywood as Finished Flooring
This would be an interesting approach to flooring. It used it trailers and various other utilities, but not homes. If cost is an issue you can look into cheaper priced laminate or even some unfinished hardwood flooring (such as a #1 common red oak).
Should you choose to go this route, you will want to seal the top of the luan (stain if you choose to stain), then finish with a good finish.
Make sure to buff each layer to ensure the finish adheres properly. Use a higher grit sand paper (at least 200 grit, upwards of about 350-400 grit) and ensure to buff lightly and evenly with a polisher. When spreading the layer of finish, do not spread it too thick. Rule of thumb is to spread many thin layers rather than few thick layers, this will give a stronger and better looking finish.
Where to buy Luan Plywood:
Luan Plywood is available at stores such as Lowes and Home Depot, in various sizes from ¼ to 1/8 and it usually found in the woodcraft aisle in store. You may have to ask someone to assist you with finding it, if it is not readily accessible at first glance when you arrive in the store. If you go to Lowes or Home Depot you may also find MDF board available in similar sizes such as ¼ to 1/8 . Luan plywood is relatively cheap to buy and its also a great multipurpose underlayment for floors as well as smaller hardware projects around the home.
Great Tips For Bending Plywood
Luan Wood Video SeriesBending 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
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