How to Build a Subfloor with OSB
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3-30 hours
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Intermediate
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- 100-1,000
Substituting OSB in place of regular plywood is a great way to cut costs if you’re building a subfloor yourself. OSB (Orient Strand Board) is made up of hundreds of individual fibers that are laminated together to form one single sheet of material the same width, length, and thickness as traditional plywood.
Most importantly, it offers the same strength and support as plywood and is commonly used in new home construction. Working with this material is just as easy as working with plywood.
Layout and Cut the OSB
To begin you’ll need to check the subfloor framing to make sure its level so each seam will be flush and even. After a quick check, lay out the OSB so it runs perpendicular to the subfloor framing. It’s also important to stagger the seams as well. To do this, measure the first cut so the butt seam of the OSB board falls on the mid-point of the floor joist that’s closest to 48 inches.
Set up the board on the sawhorses and mark the board with the drywall square. Then make a straight cut using the circular saw and lay the board in place. Next, measure the distance to the midpoint of the floor joist that’s closest to 96 inches directly adjacent to the first board. Mark a new OSB board and make the cut using the circular saw. As you fill in the length of the room with full sheets keep alternating cuts for new runs as you move across the room.
Install the OSB
Once you’ve made the first two cuts and checked the layout you can now install them in place. Lay down a medium-sized bead of subfloor adhesive using a standard caulking gun. Then place the first board you cut and make sure it's firmly in place. To fasten the board, use the drill or driver to install a two-inch screw every eight inches along every joist. The combination of adhesives and traditional fasteners helps prevent squeaking over time.
Grab the second cut board and lay it down in place, making sure it forms a tight seam against the adjacent board. Repeat the installation process using more adhesive and two-inch screws. Now just fill in each row with full sheets of OSB repeating the steps of applying adhesive and then installing the coarse-thread screws. When you get to the end of the room and have less than a full board, just measure the distance and make the cut with the circular saw.
