Luan Panels: Information
Luan Board
Luan Ply: Information
Luan Mahagony
Luan Vaneer: Description
How to Bend Plywood
1 Cut the luan sheets to fit the area to be covered, taking care to stagger the seams so the luan edges do not end at the same line as the edges of the subfloor that covers the floor joists.
A space of one quarter inch should be left between the luan sheets to allow for expansion.
2 Screw the luan into place, using deck screws placed every six inches on the surface of the luan and taking care to drive the screws slightly below the surface of the luan.
3 Finish the seams and screw heads by filling with floor patch; allow to dry as per the patch manufacturer's instructions.
4 Sand the patched areas until smooth.
Installing Laun Flooring - Best Methods:
Many new flooring installations require a new underlayment be installed in order to properly prepare the subfloor for the new flooring material. Luan is a common material used for underlayment, and it is imperative that the luan be properly secured to assure the integrity of the new flooring once it is installed. While different flooring materials may call for specifics isolated to the particular flooring, there is a standard process for securing luan as a flooring underlayment
Vinyl flooring is affordable and durable and water resistant which is made in a variety of colours and patterns, making it a first choice in all types of home renovations such as for the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. Once installed it can form tightly with the vinyl flooring and the surface beneath it. So the use of luan plywood underlayment is required. The good news is that it is easy to install for all purposes. While luan plywood is smooth one on surface, it is easy to install below or under vinyl flooring. - Keep in mind it is not always the best fit for all types of vinyl flooring.
Luan is 1/4 thick and it comes in a variety of sheet sizes including 4x8 sheets. It is made from various wood materials and is manufactured by layering thin strips of wood at right angles and then bonding them under pressure to form larger panels. Each luan panel has a rough side and a smooth side. The smooth side faces upwards when installing the vinyl flooring attaching itself to this surface.
Installing Luan Panels
Luan installs on top of a subfloor since the sheets are not strong enough or engineered for that exact purchase. Start in one corner of the room and begin to lay a full panel of luan perpendicular to the form of the subfloor panels. Leave a gap of about 1/16 of an inch between the walls and the luan panel. Use a staple gun to insert 1/4 inch crown staples every 6 inches across the plane of the luan panel and every 2 inches along the edges. Install additional luan panels the same way, and remember to leave a 1/16 of an inch gap between expansion gaps and panels.
Quick Tips
Use a chalk guide line on the underside of the luan panel. Cut the luan panel with a circular saw from the backside to prevent the splintering of the face of the sheet. Luan is lightweight and thin enough that you can cut a smaller area from the top side with a utility knife. Make sure that several pressure cuts in the groove rather than trying to cut through the panel with one forceful cut. Since vinyl flooring shows every bump and groove, it is very important that the staples are flush with or slightly below the surface of the luan plywood. An easy way to check this is by raising the edge of a large metal taping knife over the surface of the luan. If any staples are raised or sticking then you will hear a clicking sound of metal hitting on top of metal. Tap any of the extending staples lightly with a hammer to make sure they are flush with the surface of the luan plywood. Before installing vinyl make sure to sweep and vacuum all the particles and dust from the underlyament of luan.
Things to Keep in Mind
When using luan as an underlayment for vinyl its better to use a sheet of vinyl flooring as opposed to vinyl tile. Although luan is often very smooth on the surface, it doesn't repel water very well, and it tends to warp when it gets wet. This will mean that the seams between the vinyl tiles allow water from spills or mopping can soak into the luan which will result in swollen plywood and lumps that are going to become visible on the surface of the vinyl floor.
Luan Plywood - Information
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Working With Plywood
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