When to Use LP Legacy® Premium Sub-Flooring According to the Pros

With many sub-flooring options on the market, building professionals must weigh their options and make a decision that can be tough when commodity and premium products are both in the mix. Discerning when to use LP Legacy® sub-flooring can be part of the process. We’ve turned to one of the pros to get his insight on the benefits of LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring and when it’s best to incorporate this unique product into your build. 

Let’s join Mark LaLiberte, one of our partners at Construction Instruction, to learn more.

Benefits of LP Legacy Sub-Floor Panels

Proven to be one of the stiffest sub-floors on the planet, LP Legacy panels are packed with more strands, resin and wax to provide exceptional resistance to moisture and edge swell. The resin is based on Gorilla Glue Technology®, which also contributes to outstanding stiffness. The panels are also manufactured with remarkable consistency, delivering performance you can count on.

"As an industry, we have gravitated in the last 30 years to an increased use of oriented strand board," says LaLiberte. "This has allowed us to change the ways in which we make OSB products, adding incredible glues in the panels themselves, for example."

LaLiberte also identifies benefits that come specifically during the installation process. "We know our homes are built outside and subjected to snow and rain, as well as the cycle of time, so sub-flooring can take a beating during construction," he says. "Exposure, time and climate should dictate the products builders choose, and LP Legacy panels offer the chance for builders to specify a product with a high level of integrity and durability."

"How critical is sub-floor?" LaLiberte asks. "I'd say it's essential. LP Legacy provides builders with an incredible level of quality and consistency."

When to Use LP Legacy Sub-Floor

Determining when to use LP Legacy sub-flooring involves the type of finished flooring a builder chooses to install. "The industry has moved away from carpet, in part because it's such an unhealthy product to install in homes," LaLiberte says. "Hard surface floorings like tile and wood have become more popular."

While engineered wood flooring is less prone to movement, tile can be damaged if there's any amount of deflection in the sub-flooring below it. "If tile gets cracks in the mortar, it leads to a very high level of frustration for customers," LaLiberte adds. "You can't afford to have much movement in the sub-floor. If there's any deflection, your tile is likely to crack."

In these situations it's important to install a durable sub-floor, like LP Legacy sub-flooring, below tile flooring applications. When the sub-flooring is less likely to deflect, the finished flooring is more likely to remain in great shape over time. LP Legacy sub-flooring, compared to other products manufactured without outstanding Gorilla Glue Technology for stiffness and moisture resistance, truly outshines the competition.

Benefits of LP Legacy Sub-Floor and LP Legacy Premium Sub-Floor Adhesive

LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring, on its own, boasts moisture resistance, incredible strength and stiffness, and consistency that help builders install a sub-floor they can be confident in. However, when paired with LP Legacy Premium Sub-Floor Adhesive, the benefits reach a new level.

"Polyurethane collapsible foam adhesives give us an incredible yield and an aggressive bond," says LaLiberte. "Once installed properly, it's not going anywhere." By expanding in small gaps between panels and supports, LP Legacy adhesive helps create a tight bond. It's gun-applied, fast-curing and 100% solvent-free, designed for ideal use with LP Legacy panels.

LP Legacy adhesive helps to prevent squeaks, which-of course-are highly undesirable for customers. "When you combine a mechanical bond from the fastener and a physical bond from the adhesive, you won't get squeaks," adds LaLiberte. "Squeaks happen when adhesives dry out and give up, and this type of adhesive doesn't dry out or give up."

When combined with a powerful adhesive, LP Legacy panels make a great solution for builders who want to ensure their clients won't have to deal with squeaks or cracks in their finished flooring. They can have peace of mind along with builders themselves who can install LP Legacy with confidence, knowing their reputations are safe.

Looking for more about LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring? Check out installation instructions, our warranty, and more product information.