CDX has excellent strength which makes it the best material used for sub-flooring. For kitchens and bathrooms, you can use this kind of plywood as subfloor for the ceramic floor. This high-quality product can be bought at affordable prices. It is one of the most commonly used plywood available in the market at reasonable price tags.
Is CDX plywood the best choice for DIY home construction?
Different types of wood can offer different pros and cons, and while CDX plywood may be the best pick for one DIY project, it may not hold up for other home construction tasks.
Can you use CDX OSB for subfloor?
Oriented Strand Board. OSB can be used for subfloors, although it is not as common as CDX. For 19/32-inch-thick panels, the joists should be 20 inches on center. For 23/32-inch-thick panels, the joists should be at least 24 inches on center.
What is the difference between OSB and CDX plywood?
But the truth is that, even though both OSB and CDX plywood are commonly used in a single home construction site, there is a big difference between these two plywood types! OSB which stands for oriented strand board, is composed of wood chips bonded together with resin and glue.
What kind of plywood is used for subfloor?
There are several types of plywood that are well-suited for subfloors. OSB is an engineered structural panel. Unlike traditional plywoods, which laminate multiple layers of veneer, OSB uses wafers that are pressed together with a binder to form the panel.
Is CDX OK for subfloor?
OSB and CDX subfloors come in tongue and groove. It's ideal for subflooring, because it prevents the edges of the plywood from moving and squeaking after insulation. Construction adhesive is used to better seal the tongue-and-groove joint.
What kind of plywood do you use for subfloor?
Standard plywood can be used for subfloors, but a better material is 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring. The tongue-and-groove edges interlock to resist movement along the panel edges and create an overall stiffer floor.
Is CDX good for flooring?
CDX is best for sub-flooring. In such places, it does not get in contact with a lot of moisture, which prevents it from getting damaged. It is also used for roof sheathing. While CDX is strong and will give good results, it is important that you take care of it.
Can you use 3/4 CDX plywood subfloor?
3/4" plywood for sub-floor should be tongue and grooved and be grade stamped sturdy-floor. CDX is a exterior grade, not designed for a sub-floor span. 3/4" CDX square edge could be used for the subfloor only if a T & G underlayment is used on the top.
What is CDX plywood used for?
CDX Plywood is used primarily by contractors to build exterior walls and roofs. CDX plywood has one side veneer grade “C” and one side veneer grade “D”. The two are bonded together with glue which can withstand a little moisture. The APA would recognize CDX Grade Plywood as C-D Exposure 1 plywood.
What is the cheapest subfloor?
Rarely, a prospective homeowner may recognize that OSB is the cheaper subfloor material.
Is CDX better than OSB?
Although some people will ultimately choose CDX, many experts argue that OSB is better overall for roofing. OSB is far less likely to expand and contract when exposed to humidity and moisture, even though it will take longer to dry. With wrapping, though, it can withstand the elements without issue.
Is CDX plywood strong?
X stands for exposure, which is the type of glue used to bind the plywood together. However, note that the grading is not about the quality but the appearance of the wood because CDX is pretty strong and resistant to damage.
What is the best material to use for a subfloor?
PlywoodPlywood. Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.
Is CDX plywood smooth on one side?
CDX - Another type of construction sheathing that might work okay for rough shop projects, like work tables and storage. It's moisture resistant. Sanded Pine - With its clean, smooth surface (one or both sides), sanded pine is perfect for building project boxes and cabinets.
What thickness should subfloor be?
The minimum thickness of plywood for subflooring is about 5/8 inch. Since it does not hold fasteners as well as plywood, OSB must be a little thicker, or at least 23/32 inch. There are several factors that determine what subfloor thickness is optimal for added benefits like insulation.
Which side of CDX plywood faces up?
When CDX plywood is used as roof sheathing, the C side of the plywood is placed up, where it will be covered by roofing felt and then shingles. This leaves the D side facing down, into the attic, where it will most likely be seen.
Why is plywood X rated?
This is desirable for structural panels because finish plywood can be extremely expensive. The "X" indicates that the plywood can withstand some exposure. As with OSB, it is suitable for exterior sheathing as well, although it is not as water-resistant as OSB. Advertisement.
Why use construction adhesive on subfloor?
Construction adhesive is used to better seal the tongue-and-groove joint.
How thick is a subfloor?
In new construction, a subfloor is typically a minimum of 5/8-inch thick. Another common size is 7/8 inch, and some subfloors are even thicker. New homes are not constructed with multilayer subfloors, but multilayer subfloors are used when a home is being retrofitted.
What is subfloor flooring?
By John Willis. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. A subfloor is a wooden, structural substrate to which durable finished flooring is attached. Plywood is usually used as subfloor today. There are many types, sizes and configurations of plywood. Different plywoods use various materials and methods of manufacture, ...
How thick is CDX plywood?
CDX plywood should be a minimum of 7/16 inch thick. The thicknesses are as follows: 7/16-, 15/32- and 1/2-inch-thick panels require joists spaced 16 inches on center; 19/32- and 5/8-inch-thick panels require joists spaced 20 inches on center.
What is subflooring?
The subfloor is the decking installed on top of flooring joists; the finished floor is then installed on top of the subfloor. The thickness of plywood panels in a subfloor is regulated by the spacing of the joists. This number is known as a span rating.
What are floor joists made of?
Floor joists are made from 2-by-8-inch or 2-by-10-inch lumber, or from engineered quiet beams, which are made from a thin layer of chipboard on edge between two lumber caps forming an "I" shape. Floor joist spacing has traditionally been 24 inches on center, or from center to center of the joists.
How thick is OSB?
OSB can be used for subfloors, although it is not as common as CDX. For 19/32-inch-thick panels, the joists should be 20 inches on center.