How to Install a Luan Subfloor
Luan is a type of 1/4-inch plywood that's used as an underlayment for flooring products. It has a smooth surface, giving flooring such as vinyl sheeting a base with no holes or splinters to come through. There are a few different grades of luan, and only the best grade should be used. Many manufacturers don't recommend the use of luan anymore, so you should check with the manufacturer of the flooring you'll be using before installation. Installation of luan is easy and quick and the material is light, so one person can do it. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Luan sheets
- Circular saw
- Pneumatic stapler
- Staples
- Measuring tape
- Floor scraper or straightedge
- Hammer
- Medium-grit sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Prepare the floor by cleaning off any debris, filling holes and sanding off any high spots or splintered areas. Then measure the floor to see how many sheets of luan you need.
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2
Lay down full boards first and staple with 7/16 crown staples, every 6 inches around the outside and 8 inches on the inside. Some luan has a staple pattern marked on it already in green. Try to stagger the seams as much as possible.
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3
Measure spaces that need cut pieces and cut them with a circular saw. Install with the factory edge toward the inside and cut edges toward the outside where baseboard or trim will cover it.
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4
Run a floor scraper (or straightedge, if you don't have a floor scraper) over the floor to make sure no staples are sticking up. When you find one, hammer it down into the wood.
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5
Check all edges. If any are rough, go over them with a medium-grade sandpaper. The luan should now be ready for flooring.
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