The floor in the shed: of what thickness plywood supposed to be

Building a shed, peculiar attention is paid to the foundation, walls and a roof, whilst the floor`s function is frequently underrated. For some reason, it`s forgotten that the floor coating suffers the greatest load. During the decades it constantly undergoes durability tests: it`s stomped by legs, squeezed by wheels, scratched by crates, and processed by the tools. So what thickness does the plywood sheet supposed to be to withstand all this?

Optimal thickness of the plywood

It`s recommended to apply ¾ inch CDX plywood as the floor coating in the shed. This type of plywood does nor sag down when laying on the framing of the beams, which are placed at the 12 inches distance from each other. Such sheet of plywood is known for it`s resilience to rot. Finally, you get material with the smooth water-proof surface, which is able to serve for years to come.

When a floor in the shed is needed

In case you are installing a plastic shed, then guide by the manufacturer's user`s manual. There are types of constructions, which don`t demand a floor coating. It`s particularly the case for small and portable constructions. Such a shed is installed on the level concrete surface or on the smooth soil.

If you are constructing a shed from wood or metal alone — proper floor is obliged. To do this one should install beams on the blocks, which will allow to avoid a contact between soil and water. After this step, plywood sheets are put on the beams.

The size and type of the flooring plywood

Why is it recommended to use ¾ inch thickness СDX plywood?

It has many advantages. The uppermost one of them is:

• Durability: a plywood sheet in thickness of ¾ inch is very durable. It easily withstands the weight of a person and heavy equipment for a long period of time.

If such a sheet is placed on pressure-treated beams located at a distance of 12 inches from one another, then no problem connected with the floor will arise within the next 20 years. Pressure treatment provides high moisture proofness. It is applied to the wood which is planned to be used in conditions of high humidity.

CDX type — is the type of plywood that doesn't belong to the most expensive range, but it has very good operational properties. It no use putting a lot of money into the floor covering for a shed, since a non-residential facility is concerned. During the first year of usage already this floor surface will not be spared minor damages as separate scratches.

This type of plywood belongs to the moisture-proof ones. This is not the material used in sea craft construction, but it is excellent at dealing with the periodic effect of moisture.

Alternative materials

When choosing material for the floor it is necessary to consider the factor of moisture proofness. Shed floors are most often made of boards, OSB, or reinforced-concrete panels.

• Planks

This material is not the best one for flooring in a small facility. Temperature differential and humidity will cause the wood to shrink and expand. As a result, every new season will bring a new portion of deformation. A floor of boards is an expensive and very unreliable option.

• OSB — oriented strand board

It is widely used for cladding of the country houses. However, OSB is completely unsuitable for hinged floors, as it does not cope well with moisture. It will take only a short time and you will notice that the board will start to inflate and swell at the edges. OSB floors will fall apart quickly and will require remodeling. There is a waterproof OSB version on the market, but the edges of the cut remain unprotected and require special handling.

• Reinforced-concrete panel

Reinforced-concrete floor isn't far from ideal, although it`s much more expensive than the plywood one and requires more labor efforts. A panel larger than 10 x 12 feet cannot be installed by one person In addition, the shed with reinforced-concrete floor becomes a serious monolithic structure, which is difficult to move or remove from the site.

Thus, plywood remains the cheapest, most reliable and easiest material to use. The moisture-resistant laminated veneer sheet meets all the necessary requirements imposed on the shed base.

Safe flooring for your shed: we build with plywood.

If you are building a shed from scratch, the following recommendations will help you in this:

1. 1. Once you have identified the site for construction, clear and level it;
2. 2. If the soil is soft, reinforce the base of the future structure with a cushion of gravel. 2. This will help to spread the load evenly and avoid undulations in the future;
3. 3. The structure of the shed should be raised off the ground. Use concrete blocks for this. Make sure that they are of the same height and are at the same level;
4. 4. Now you can begin to install the flooring. Place the beams 12 inches apart. To protect the cuts from moisture and insects, use Coppercoat preservative. Fastening is done with screws, such as those by Simpson company, which have a protective coating;
5. 5. Place sheets of the ¾ thickness waterproof plywood. Put them so that the sides with more defects face down.

How much does a floor for a shed cost?

The price depends on the construction size and the price of the selected material.  In case you decided to construct a 10 х 12 ft shed you need 12 concrete blocks. This amount shall serve as a guarantee that as the spring comes the shed won`t tumble down on one of the flanks. If the soil is very soft, one may need more blocks and a gravel pad as well.

The cost of the concrete blocks is $7 per unit.  $7 multiplied by $12 is $84.

If you take beams and place them at the 12 inches distance one from another, all along 12 ft, you will find that you actually need 13 beams. Plus 2 beams to reinforce the edges Totally — 15 beams The cost of the beam is $13 per unit $13 multiplied 15 is $195 The cost of the small can of Coppercoat to protect the cuts is $14. Next, you need to acquire 4 sheets of the plywood of 4 х 8 size — $40 per sheet. Total: 4 х 40 =$160.

The price of the screws is $10. This is the price of the 1 ft package where the screw`s size is 3 х 8 inches. To make one connection you need 3 screws. The cost of the nuts is $10 accordingly. Finally, fixing will cost $20 more.

Summing up all the sums: $84 + $169 + $14 + $169 + $20= $447

So, 447$ is the cost of a big shed, where one can make a small working area and find enough space to store the tools.

The total sum may be rounded up to $500 giving the fact that it will be affected by the lack or availability of the seasonal discounts and pricing policies of the particular region.

Conclusion:

Installation of the hinged flooring coating doesn`t require in-depth knowledge and special skills. The installation can be made within 1.5-2 days. Using plywood makes the construction process significantly cheaper. In case such a floor was installed properly, it`s service life may excess 20 years, what makes it a cost-effective and attractive solution for your shed.