What would be the thinnest subfloor nailed directly on concrete? Is it
possible to not use studs under it?

TIA

It's above grade and I thought of a poly sheet as a vapor barrier
(Vapor Lock).

I'm trying to minimize increasing the height too much, and I was
thinking about 1/4" or 3/8" thick. Are such thicknesses feasible?

TIA

"Augustine" wrote in message
ups.com...
It's above grade and I thought of a poly sheet as a vapor barrier
(Vapor Lock).

I'm trying to minimize increasing the height too much, and I was
thinking about 1/4" or 3/8" thick. Are such thicknesses feasible?

What are you putting on top of the subfloor? 3/8" is not much to nail into
for a real hardwood floor. For floating floors, then yes.

I'm stapling 5/16" hardwood floor using 1" staples. I just measured
how deep the staple goes at 45° and it requires a subfloor 1/2" thick.

My motivations is that after stapling the hardwood strips upstairs on
wood underlayment, I'm concerned that gluing them on concrete is going
to be not only more laborious as would increase the waste.

I've found several strips which were a little bent up or sideways and
I'm afraid that the glue would allow for such strips, unlike when
stapling.

Thoughts?

TIA

Augustine wrote:
What would be the thinnest subfloor nailed directly on concrete? Is
it possible to not use studs under it?

You said your staples need 1/2"... I'd want 3/4 to fasten to. You can get
T&G 3/4 ply made for the purpose, no sleepers needed but you should use a
vapor barrier.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

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I'd think that 3/4" would be better too. However, the floor would be
about 1" higher than the slab, creating a step when it meets other
floors, even tiles... I'm split over this, do you have any advice?

Thanks for your help.

Augustine wrote:
I'd think that 3/4" would be better too. However, the floor would be
about 1" higher than the slab, creating a step when it meets other
floors, even tiles... I'm split over this, do you have any advice?

Thanks for your help.

I would partially bevel a strip of the wood floor where it meets the tile.

Most of my house is Saltillo tile but my wife wanted 3/4 maple in her
office. Tile on slab, wood over 3/4" ply subfloor on slab. The maple is
about 3/4" higher than the finished tile surface and I did the beveled strip
thing. I *also* placed it so that it overhangs the subfloor by maybe an
inch; I then slid tile edges into that void. One doesn't notice the height
difference when going from wood to/from tile areas and there is nothing to
trip on.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico