Underneath most floors there is a layer called an underlayment, and one of the most common materials that it is made of is a plywood flooring underlayment. This is the layer between the top portion and the subfloor.
Why is Plywood Flooring Underlayment Popular?
Plywood flooring underlayment is popular for several reasons. For one thing, plywood is inexpensive and is also a very stable material. It is resistant to things like humidity and even though it is not waterproof, it is considered resistant to being in contact with water for short periods of time.
Plywood underlayment is also easy to install. It comes in large sized sheets that can easily cover a floor space 4’ by 8’ or bigger. Plus, it is quite easy to cut plywood using a circular saw, which is a common construction tool.
Types of Plywood Used for Underlayment in Floors
If you are considering using this material you have to choose a specific type of plywood to make flooring underlayment. These types include using ¼ inch exterior grade AC plywood under resilient vinyl flooring, 1/4″ to 1/2″ exterior grade AC or CD plywood under wood flooring, and 1/2″ AC exterior grade plywood under ceramic tile floors.
AC plywood is a type that is smooth and sanded, while CD is more inferior and can have knots and roughness in it.
Brands of Plywood Don’t Matter in Most Cases
Plywood used as underlayment doesn’t usually have to be a certain brand, but some brands are better suited than others in some situations. For instance, if you are putting it under vinyl flooring, there are certain brands for made specifically for types of vinyl flooring such as Armstrong, Halex, Congoluem, and more.
The bottom line is that if you are installing a floor, then you need a middle layer between the top and the subfloor called flooring underlayment, and one of the most common materials to use for this is plywood.
