Wood – How to properly lay a tongue and groove plywood subfloor in a remodel

blockingplywoodsubfloor

When laying T&G plywood subfloors, do all of the edges need to be supported around the perimeter of the room? If so, I may need to add some sort of blocking in my project and I'm not sure of the best approach since the walls are sitting over the joists and therefore there is nothing for the edges of the plywood to sit on.

Do I need to run board parallel to the joist with the wall on it so the entire edge of the plywood sits on top of it? I've heard that I should use "blocking" and also that it should be "continuous" but these are contradictory terms to me at the moment.

From what I've gathered, blocking would be boards inserted perpendicular to the joists and to the edge of the plywood that needs support and therefore not be "continuous". The other option would basically be sistering the joist with the wall on it which could prove difficult since there are pipes and wires in the way.

Could someone please clarify what needs to be done?

Best Answer

You defiantly need to support the subfloor around the perimeter.

Let's say this is your floor without plywood.

Joists

You want to put plywood down, but the edge of the sheet has nothing under it for support.

Subfloor

If you don't support the plywood, you'll end up with a "soft" spot around the perimeter. Stepping, or adding weight to this area will cause the plywood to flex. This flexing will cause the area to feel spongy, and could damage the flooring (depending on the type of flooring). To solve this problem, you have a couple options.

Blocking.

Installing blocking perpendicular to the joists will support the edge of the sheet.

Blocking

Blocking with Subfloor

The size and spacing of the blocking will be determined by local codes, so consult your local government for these requirements.

Additional Joist

Another option, is to install an additional joist to support the edge of the sheet.

Extra Joist

Extra Joist with Subfloor

This extra joist may not have to span the entire length, and may be able to be supported by blocking between the existing joists. Again, check with local building codes to determine what is required.