Plywood floor

[geoffwh]

Can I use 9mm Exterior grade plyfor a small kitchen floor to save height or would it be safer to use 12mm ?
Also should I use a primer ? (PVA)
First attempt at floor tiling so your help would be appreciated

 

[big-all]

heeelllooo geoffwh and welcome


are you talking on top of the origional floor or instead off!!!!!!!!!

if you are talking instead off you need a minimum of 18mm

 

[geoffwh]

No, on top of existing floor boards

 

[wap]

if the floorboards are solid you could use 6mm ply screwed down every 4 inch. if not so solid try putting no more ply down. its more expensive than ply but much better

 

[geoffwh]

Hi wop
What do you mean put no more ply down ?

thanks

 

[gcol]

6mm is too thin. 9mm should be ok if your floorboards are dead flat and very secure and have no bounce. If in doubt use 12mm. I say again, 6mm is too thin.

 

[wap]

i have put 6mm down on numerous occasions when its not been possible to put thicker ply down. eg upvc doors,appliances etc. as long as its screwed down secure and a quality spf is used you shouldnt have a problem.

 

[gcol]

 

[wap]

gcol if people want to save height in there own kitchen then just saying that you can use 6mm ply if you want. i dont use 6mm as standard i normally use 9mm no more ply or ditra. just giving people an option thats all. never had one call back to a 6mm ply floor in over 5 years

 

[gcol]

Be careful believing that just cause you haven't been called back means your job is sound. That's not always the case - if you have a tiler in and the grout breaks up after a few months, I'd bet you that only a small percentage would get the same tiler back in to remedy the situation.
You've gotta be careful on here - you can't see the poster's floor. You don't know how bad it is.... how bouncy. If you recommend 6mm, be prepared to be called on it. In a few months, you might not be here...I will. I recommend what will last and do the job properly. If I can be so bold as to give you some advice, use 9mm as an absolute minimum. If a customer wants you to use less than that, walk away.