Plywood Flooring

Plywood Flooring - Will It Last?

Indeed it can and will. Plywood flooring in not just beautiful it's also very affordable. We bought a big, old character home about three years ago. This house is sprawling. Our children love the vast areas in which to play and we love the potential of our big, old house...

Of course, there are many challenges faced when taking on any renovation project. One of the biggest ones being, what to do with our old, rough and splintery wooden floors.

My husband and I have spent many hours researching, browsing and debating what to do with the huge amount of floor space on our main floor. While we want an affordable choice, we don't want to scrimp on quality and style.

There are many options available ranging from refinishing our old floors, installing expensive hardwood, or opting for durable linoleum. However, non of these options have seemed quite right for our space for a range of reasons.

Then we struck upon a solution that is economical, easy to install and looks fantastic: We've decided to install plywood flooring.

Plywood flooring comes in a variety of veneers, qualities, sizes and thicknesses, that can be adapted to suit any living space.

For our family, we are planning on laying plywood flooring throughout our main floor - from the front entrance, our living room, family room and dining areas.

My husband purchased a brad nailer, that will allow us to install our plywood flooring without having to worry about ugly nail heads sticking up. Other options include screwing the flooring down and covering the heads with wood filler or wooden buttons, or affixing the plywood flooring with liquid nails, glue or another adhesive.

We've looked at photos showcasing other plywood flooring projects. One application that we particularly like has a birch veneer with beautiful, natural grains and a super high gloss finish. This natural look is anticipated to be easy to clean and not as likely to show dust and dirt that might accumulate between cleanings.

We've found that a darker finish tends to be more difficult to clean and maintain, and definitely is more inclined to show every bit of dust and any minor scratches or dents that may occur over time.

One thing to keep in mind when considering plywood as a flooring option, is that you will likely have to install it yourself. If you try to discuss your plans with your local lumber or flooring dealers, don't expect to receive their support.

They'll likely roll their eyes and tell you that you're crazy. But don't despair! Plywood flooring is still a very viable, workable solution, as long as you are willing to do the installation yourself.

We are very excited about installing plywood flooring in our home and to finally have a beautiful, low-maintenance floor that is both durable and practical for our busy, growing family.