Helping to Prevent Squeaky Floors With Stronger Materials

Helping to Prevent Squeaky Floors With Stronger Materials

No matter which flooring materials homeowners choose for their building and remodeling projects, builders must plan carefully from the sub-floor up, which includes consideration of sub-floor thickness. As they field requests for increasingly complicated flooring options within a range of performance categories, builders face the decision of which sub-flooring to choose to support it.

When it comes to choosing an appropriate sub-floor for anything from carpet to high-end tile, LP Legacy^® Premium Sub-Flooring and the new LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring Adhesive can help builders achieve exceptional strength and stiffness for even the most demanding sub-floor applications. When installed properly, LP Legacy sub-flooring can help homeowners avoid a squeaky sub-floor* for years to come after installation. And when combined with LP^® SolidStart^® engineered wood products and a design that enables a strong floor, builders like you can have peace of mind knowing you’ve installed a reliable flooring solution.

*For complete warranty details, visit LPCorp.com/Warranties.

Choosing a Sub-Floor for Strength, Durability—and Fewer Squeaks

LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring is the best choice for an effective, strong house sub-floor. As one of the industry’s strongest, stiffest OSB sub-floors, LP Legacy panels offer exceptional fastener holding and superior moisture resistance because of the resins and waxes used to coat every wood strand. Gorilla Glue Technology^® sets LP Legacy panels apart from the competition. It is also available in a full range of performance categories to support many finished flooring options.

Additionally, the panels are backed by a unique Covered Until It’s Covered^® No-Sand Warranty and a Lifetime Limited Warranty that lasts as long as the home, which shows LP’s confidence in the product. These outstanding warranties are another reason LP Legacy panels are a great option for demanding and unique sub-floor applications.

LP Legacy Offers Design Values for Any Flooring Need

When using a premium sub-flooring product like LP Legacy sub-flooring, you may tend not to need as thick a sub-floor as you would when using commodity OSB. LP Legacy provides greater load capacities than commodity grade sub-flooring of equal thickness. However, no matter your flooring plan, always consult the floor covering manufacturer's recommendations for suggested sub-flooring.

How Thick Does Sub-floor Need to Be for Tile?

Tile is a unique flooring option that may require additional consideration. When it comes to how thick a sub-floor should be for tile, keep in mind that tile is a heavy, brittle flooring material that requires adequate support. LP Legacy sub-flooring’s proprietary design values can help you achieve greater load capacity than commodity panel of equal thickness, and the enhanced stiffness of LP Legacy panels can help reduce cracking.  For more guidance, refer to the Tile Council of North America. 

How Thick Does Sub-floor Need to Be for Hardwood?

Hardwood is another material that requires sub-floor planning. In general, sub-floor thickness for hardwood flooring should be a minimum of 23/32 Performance Category which carries a 24 oc maximum support span rating. However, as joist spacing increases, sub-floor thickness must likewise increase to maintain an equal or greater load capacity.

For support spacing greater than 24 inches on center sub-floor thickness must increase to at least 7/8”, which carries a max span rating of 32 inches on center. LP Legacy panels are available in a range of thicknesses for these needs, including Performance Categories in 7/8 (32 oc) and 1-1/8 (48 oc). Refer to the National Wood Flooring Association for additional guidance on sub-floor thickness for hardwood floors.

Experts Weigh In on LP Legacy Panels

Trusted contractors, including Jordan Smith of Smith House Company, have had success with LP Legacy sub-floor applications—even in less-than-ideal weather conditions. At the LP House build, Smith experienced significant rainfall, but the next day “[the panels] were fine,” he says. “There was no swelling, no popping—it’s a great product from a durability standpoint.” 

Available in Performance Categories of 19/32, 5/8, 23/32, 7/8, and 1-1/8, LP Legacy panels are an efficient, dependable solution. "They are also ideal for all flooring types, from carpet and hardwood to high-end tile," Smith adds.

The LP Legacy 23/32 panels also qualify as 48/24 Structural I Rated Sheathing and 24oc Structural I Rated Single Flooring. Combined with LP^® SolidStart^® LSL, LVL and I-joists, pros can design a floor with resiliency in mind and an exceptionally strong and straight base to work from, which is key for heavier finish flooring applications.

Check out more about how LP Legacy has been proven to be one of the stiffest sub-floors on the planet.​