I'm looking to replace the subfloor on the second floor of my home. I've heard great things about Avantech plywood, particularly when it comes to its moisture resistance. However, I'm a bit confused about whether this advantage applies when the plywood is used in a finished home that won't expose it to the elements. Given my situation, is it worth spending the extra money on Avantech, or will regular 3/4" plywood suffice? I want to avoid any sagging or squeaking. Also, I've noticed that finding 3/4" Advantech is challenging. Should I be concerned if I opt for the 23/32" instead?
2 Answers
The moisture resistance of Avantech is mainly beneficial during construction when materials are exposed. In your case, since it's for an existing home and won’t be exposed to the weather, regular 3/4" plywood should hold up fine. Just keep in mind that Avantech tends to resist edge swelling better than regular OSB, so if you're worried about a perfectly flat floor, that might sway your decision.
I did a 3/4" overlay on my second floor, using a mix of plywood and Advantech. I found that Advantech does remain flatter and is definitely more moisture resistant. Just a heads up, though – it can give off a lot of VOCs, which elevated my air quality readings for a while. My plywood part has been 'good enough' for my needs. It's pricier, but if it's only a slight increase in cost, I'd lean towards the Advantech for future projects.