Subfloor adhesive recommendations

InlineDieselFan · Oct 31, 2006

I like SikaFlex it is about $4.50 for the regular sized tubes. I have used Liquid Nails and it worked well, but I tink the SikaFlex is much better.

steve

Spark_man · Oct 31, 2006

5030tinkerer said:
I plan on installing my 3/4 T&G plywood subfloor on my trusses ...

Don't use plywood. The AdvanTech stuff is much better and has a 50 year warranty. My son builds custom homes and says they use this stuff exclusively. Water will bead up on it.

Here's a like to the manufacturer's website. Welcome to Huber Engineered Woods

nolefan · Oct 31, 2006

I second the recommendation of Advantech for sub flooring over plywood. Our builder used it on our house in NC and I was very pleased with the specs as well as its ability to handle rain prior to the house being dried in. Not sure what adhesive he used but I know they only nailed it, no screws.

5030tinkerer · Nov 7, 2006

Wow. Advantech looks to be an impressive product - I only wish I had seen the post earlier (that's what I get for not hopping on TBN every day!). My subfloor on the main level is now installed using 3/4 T&G plywood and Liquid Nails adhesive. So far so good, but it hasn't rained yet. Even if it does, I'm thinking that I should be in okay shape anyway since I am having gypcrete poured over the floor. What do you guys think? Would I be better off with the Advantech flooring on the second level understanding that it, too, will have the gypcrete overpour?

buckeyefarmer · Nov 7, 2006

5030tinkerer said:
What sort of trouble did you have with it? In what application? Until your post, I hadn't heard of anyone anywhere that had trouble with it.

I used Liquid Nail to glue my subfloor to the joists, and then nailed. It has popped loose in several areas. In a couple places I can see in the basement where there is no ceiling, the nails in those places missed the joist, but other places it popped where the nails have not missed. Still I would have expected the glue to hold. I have 2x10 joists, which are not as true, so that contributes to the popping. Here's a pic of one area, hard to tell from the pic but it appears the glue has seperated, and not the wood has pulled off one side.

For my garage I used TJI joists, and it's glued with FS110, supplied by the company I got the TJI's from. I have not found a problem with it so far. It says it will bond wet/frozen wood.

Dusty · Nov 8, 2006

When I built our home 24 years ago, I had the sub floor glued and nailed and back then, they said the glue had a 50 year warranty. Now, some of the floors have squeaks in them, and as we re-carpet the house, I screw the sub flooring to the joists. This has helped to eliminate the squeaks, but occasionally one seems to start up where there was no squeak the week before, and a few weeks later it is gone. I believe it has something to do with the moisture content of the air and how that moisture is absorbed into the wood. The only flooring that has never had a squeak is where the ceramic tiles were installed. The subcontractor that did that work, screwed the flooring every 2". Then he installed expanded steel mesh and nailed that every 2" in every direction. Then came the concrete mixed with latex and it was spread over the steel mesh. Then the tiles were buttered and set on top of that. In 24 years, we have never had one tile come loose, crack or have any squeaks. It has been perfect in every way but one. Every time my wife drops a plate or glass on it, the plate or glass shatters into many small pieces. The down side of tile is that you best pick something that you will like for a long time into the future. It is truly a permanent flooring. Dusty

JeffRey30747 · Nov 16, 2006

I used the Advantech subfloor in the new house that I'm building. It came highly recommended and appears to be an excellent product. I did notice however, that the instructions called for nailing with 8d ring shank nails and we used those. They do seem to be harder to pull out than the smooth shank. They aren't that much more and the nail gun doesn't seem to know the difference when driving them so I used them on all my OSB sheathing too.

Jeff

Spark_man · Nov 16, 2006

I assume your using the gypcrete because you are putting in a radiant heat system?

If so, that really is a get it right the first time, no second chances deal. If it were me, I'd use the Advantech, a quality construction adhesive (the best I could afford), and screw to the joists.

But that's just me.