Ply boarding and plywood overboarding in Twickenham and London
Alex ply boards old floorboards across Twickenham and London, screwing plywood sheets down to give LVT, vinyl and other new floors a smooth, firm base.
9.97/10 from 118 Checkatrade reviews (opens in a new tab)Ply boarding with Alex
Old floorboards have gaps, ridges and a little spring in them. Thin floors such as LVT and vinyl copy whatever is underneath, so a plain floorboard surface soon shows through. Overboarding, which means fixing plywood sheets over the boards, hides all of that.
Alex does this work across London and up to 50 miles around, so LVT, vinyl and laminate go down flat and quiet. This page also explains what is involved, what to check first and where DIY ply boarding usually goes wrong.
Step by step
How the job runs
Look at the boards
Before fitting day
Alex lifts the old covering and checks for loose, split or missing boards, and for anything that looks wrong underneath.
Fix the base first
Day 1
Loose boards are screwed down or replaced, and pipes and cables are marked so no screw goes through them.
Lay the sheets
Day 1
Sheets go down in a brick pattern, so the joints never line up, with a small gap between them and at the walls.
Screw them down
Day 1
Each sheet is fixed on a close grid, tighter at the edges, so nothing lifts, rocks or squeaks later.
Check and move on
Last day
Alex runs over the finished surface for high spots and movement. A typical room is often done in a day, ready for the new floor.
What is ply boarding and why does a new floor need it?
Ply boarding, also called overboarding, means screwing plywood sheets over floorboards to make a smooth, firm base. LVT, vinyl and glued floors need it because they are thin and flexible, so every gap, ridge and bit of board movement shows through.
Boards also shrink and swell with the seasons. A glued floor bonded straight to them can be pulled apart at the joints, so it needs a steadier surface.
What thickness of ply and how close should the screws go?
Typically, 6 to 9 mm ply suits vinyl and LVT, and 9 to 12 mm suits boards that are uneven or springy. Screws usually sit roughly 100 to 150 mm apart along the edges and a little wider across the middle.
These are typical ranges only. The floor maker's instructions decide the ply grade, thickness and fixing spacing, so read them before you buy. Use screws, not nails, and keep them clear of pipes and cables.
Do you need ply under laminate or engineered wood?
Not if the floor is already sound and flat. A floating laminate or engineered floor on a good underlay can sit straight on boards that are firm and level.
Ply earns its place when boards are uneven, gappy or noisy. Check with a long straight edge, and check that nothing creaks, before deciding.
Old floorboards: ply boarding or levelling compound?
Ply boarding is the answer for a timber floor. It stiffens loose, gappy boards and gives glued floors a clean base. It adds height, so doors and thresholds need thought.
Levelling compound suits concrete. On an uneven solid floor, a poured layer fills the dips and sets flat, which ply cannot do. It is not for floorboards, which flex and would crack it.
See floor screeding and levellingWhat affects the cost of ply boarding?
- The size of the room and how many sheets it takes
- The thickness and grade of plywood the floor maker asks for
- Repairs to loose or damaged boards before the ply goes down
- Cutting round pipes, doorways, fireplaces and fitted units
- Lifting the old floor covering first, if it is still down
- How easy it is to reach the room, and to park
Looking after it
Once the new floor is on top, a ply base needs no care of its own. Treat the floor above as its maker advises.
If something later creaks or feels uneven, tell Alex rather than assuming the new floor is faulty. It is often a single loose board or a screw that needs another turn.
Mistakes to avoid
- Ply boarding over loose or rotten boards instead of fixing them first.
- Lining up the sheet joints in neat rows rather than staggering them.
- Using too few screws, or leaving the edges loose so they lift.
- Screwing blind into the floor and hitting a pipe or cable.
- Forgetting that the floor will rise, then finding the door catches.
Common questions
Ply boarding: common questions
Can you lay LVT or vinyl straight onto floorboards?
Not usually. Floorboards have gaps and ridges, and they move through the year. LVT and vinyl are thin and soon show every joint, and a glued floor can pull apart at the seams. Most makers ask for a smooth, firm base, which on old boards means a layer of plywood screwed down first.
Should you fix creaky floorboards before ply boarding?
Yes. Ply fixed over loose boards hides the noise for a while but does not cure it, because the sheet moves with them. Screw down any loose boards first, or replace those that are split or missing. Check for pipes and cables before you drive a screw.
Do all floorboards need ply boarding first?
No. A floor that is sound, flat and quiet can take a floating laminate or engineered wood floor on underlay without it. Ply helps when the boards are uneven, gappy, springy or noisy, and it is the usual base under LVT, vinyl and any glued floor. The floor maker's instructions have the final say.
Will ply boarding make my doors stick?
It can. Ply and the new floor on top together raise the surface by the thickness of both, so doors that cleared the old floor may catch. Check the gap under each door before you start. Doors can often be trimmed, and thresholds or trims can be chosen to suit where the floor meets the next room.
How long does ply boarding take?
For an average room, it is often done in a day, once any loose boards are fixed. Awkward shapes, lots of pipework and large areas take longer. Alex gives you a realistic idea once he has seen the floor. Send a few photos and he will tell you what the boards need.
Is ply boarding the same as screeding?
No. Ply boarding is for timber floors: sheets screwed over floorboards. Screeding, or levelling, is for concrete: a poured layer that fills dips and sets flat. They give the same result, a smooth firm base, but each suits a different floor, and you should not swap one for the other.
Free estimate
Get a free quote
Tell Alex about the job and get one clear, written price. Free, and no obligation.