
How to Select the Right Type of Subfloor Material
What is a subfloor exactly? It’s the foundational layer that provides structural support for everything above it. A typical floor consists of three distinct layers: the subfloor, underlayment, and finished flooring. Common subfloor materials include plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and concrete slabs, each with specific thickness requirements. For instance, when installing hardwood or laminate flooring, a minimum subfloor thickness of 3/4-inch is essential, while tile installations require at least 1-1/4 inches of total subfloor thickness. The debate between OSB vs plywood subfloor continues among professionals, with OSB having twice the horizontal shear strength of plywood. What is a Subfloor







