I'm considering installing stained 1/2" birch plywood as flooring in my 1985 log home. The plan is to use a combination of full sheets, 16x16 squares, and 8'x16" strips. Right now, the space is carpeted, but there's already plywood underneath—though I'm not sure how thick it is. The floor creaks a lot, and I'm curious about using ring shank finishing nails without glue. Would biscuiting the edges be wise or a waste of time? Overall, is using plywood as a finished floor a bad idea? Looking for any advice!
3 Answers
Honestly, I think this is a risky move. Adding another layer of plywood could make the floor even creakier—think cartoon-level noise when you walk on it! Just a fair warning!
Plywood generally lacks the strength needed for this kind of application, which is why it's usually reserved for subfloors. Achieving a good finish would necessitate a lot of prep work, which could get damaged easily. If you want a decorative look, consider tongue and groove boards or parquet instead—those would hold up much better!
I hear you, it would mostly be covered with a large rug and was thinking to poly over the surface as a tougher finish.
I've done something similar for a loft space and it’s been working great for over 12 years. I used a screw-down method in a 12x12 pattern with visible heads. If I could do it again, I’d biscuit the edges to handle minor gaps better. Just my two cents!
Thanks, the theory of biscuiting does make sense to me.
Noted! The floor is already making music!