5 Do’s and Don’ts When Installing Plywood Underlayment
February 11th, 2014
5 Do’s & Don’ts When Installing Plywood Underlayment:
Do’s
1) Obtain and follow the installation instructions from the manufacturer of the plywood underlayment you are installing. Patriot Timber Products, Inc. provides written installation guides for each panel in the Patriot Timber family of plywood underlayments. In addition to the written installation guides available at www.PatriotTimber.com you can also visit www.InstallSurePly.com and view our informative, step by step installation video.
2) Acclimate your plywood underlayment panels to the room in which they will be installed.
3) Be sure to perform the Flex and Look Test on each sheet of plywood underlayment. Instructions can be found at http://www.patriottimber.com/plywood-lumber-products/flexlooktest/
4) Fasten every 4” within the body of the panel and every 2” along the perimeter of the plywood underlayment panel following the manufacturers written installation instructions.
http://www.patriottimber.com/plywood-lumber-products/sureply-installation-guide/
http://www.patriottimber.com/plywood-lumber-products/ironply/ironply-installation-guide/
5) Check the air pressure in the fastening tool you are using to install the plywood underlayment panels. Make sure the pressure is set so that you do not “blow-through” the panel causing a potential flooring failure.
Don’ts
1) Do not install your plywood underlayment panels until you thoroughly sweep and vacuum the area where the new floor will be installed.
2) Do not adhere your plywood underlayment panels to the existing or structural sub-floor using construction adhesives.
3) Do not fasten the four corners of the panel first then fill in the body of the plywood underlayment panel afterwards. This can trap movement in the plywood underlayment panels causing a potential flooring failure.
4) Do not tightly butt your plywood underlayment panels at the seams. This can cause telegraphing seams which can show through your finished flooring. Watch our informative, step by step installation video available at www.InstallSurePly.com for tips on avoiding telegraphing seams.
5) If you are going to use the seam-filler method, do not lightly butt the panels together. Leave an expansion joint approximately the thickness of a nickel for subsequent seam-filling. Also, do not feather or hand sand the seam filler after it dries. Use a belt or floor sander.