Luan Panels: Information
Luan Board
Luan Ply: Information
Luan Mahagony
Luan Vaneer: Description
How to Bend Plywood
Because luan's a very thin material, it's probably good to support both sides of it when cutting large sheets with a table or circular saw. When you making intricate cuts using a jigsaw or handheld cutting tool, such as for toys or other crafts, there is a danger of splintering off the top veneer layer, which would ruin the look of the piece.
Avoid this problem by first cutting through the topmost veneer layer with a utility knife, then keeping your cutting tool blade right next to this line. You will not avoid some damage to the reverse face veneer, but that side will usually be hidden from view in the final product.
Cost Effectiveness of Luan Wood:
Because cost is a major factor in most home renovation projects, Luan wood is perfect choice if your on a budget or just want to save some money. Keep in mind that if you use Luan Wood, and especially for the underlayment of flooring such as Vinyl or Laminate that it's ability to repel mositure is not the greatest, and this can sometimes cause more problems than it's worth.
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 incluing 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 spils 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.
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