Carpet Tile On Plywood Subfloor

Imperfections in your subfloor can lead to problems with your new carpet like gaps or lumps or damage from moisture or odors.

Carpet tile on plywood subfloor.

If you re installing new plywood use galvanized screws to fasten it and countersink the screw heads. You can lay carpet squares directly over concrete plywood and osb or particleboard subfloors as well as over vinyl tile laminate and some hardwood finished floors. Underneath the hardwood laminate tile or carpet lies the subfloor and it s a component that only gets attention during a full scale renovation or a full blown problem. The backing may eventually discolor some wood floors.

Carpet tiles can adhere to concrete plywood or particleboard subfloors. The plywood will expand and contract at a different rate as the tile causing cracks to develop in the grout lines or tiles over time. No matter how firm the subfloor. Loose areas on an existing plywood subfloor can cause peel and stick tiles to lift over time.

Order the carpet adding an extra 10 percent for waste. Carpet tiles are colorful versatile and easy to install making them the perfect comfort flooring option for homeowners and renters interested in do it yourself projects. In some cases you can also install carpet tiles over existing wood tile or vinyl flooring so long as the existing flooring is no more than an inch thick. This should be followed by a second layer of 15 32 inch thick plywood installed with a 1 4 inch gap between sheets.

While you can lay tile directly over a concrete slab using thin set adhesive don t make the mistake of applying tile directly to a plywood subfloor. Whether you re installing new carpet yourself or having a professional do it it s important to prepare your floors before installation. Assess your existing floor. It can also be used under hardwood laminate and carpet but this is much less common these days because subflooring is typically smooth enough for these materials many of which are installed with a different type of underlayment or pad.

Before you can install carpet tiles you must prepare the existing floor. The tile council of north america tcna calls for a subfloor of 19 32 inch tongue and groove plywood to be installed over wood joists spaced 16 inches on center with a 1 8 inch gap between sheets. Follow these guidelines to prepare your floor and protect your new carpet investment.