Make subfloor of high density polyethylene instead of plywood

[Free Range Chicken]

Hello everyone

Yesterday I was wandering at Menard's and I saw a 4 by 8 feet sheet of what appeared to be a very hard sturdy plastic sheet. It was a quarter inch thick. It felt kind of heavier than a quarter inch of plywood. ..

Did some research and looks like some ppl call it starboard in the Marine environment.

I had the idea of using it as a floor instead of a plywood floor. the advantage would be worry free about liquid spills, a relatively less squeaky and noisy material, and it wouldn't bow, expand or contract like plywood does. .

Have anyone have had experience using it? Will it hold stiffly and securely wood bolts and or nails? ??? would it be a good idea to use it? ??

I have not finished my conversation but one of the things that I like the least is my acx plywood floor. it bows when the Sun sits on it and it is very squeaky

 

[BradKW]

Starboard is very nice stuff...one place you might be familiar with seeing it used is outdoor fish cleaning stations.

I've never seen it in 1/4" though...that's pretty thin. I'm guessing that 1/4" is used as a finish flooring over top plywood...I don't think it's substantial enough to serve as underlayment unless there's already a subfloor.

I'm curious what thickness plywood you're currently unsatisfied with, what it's sitting on, and how it's fastened?

Edit: nevermind, just looked up your build thread. I remember reading that about how you bowed it, re-wet and weighted, and thinking "hmmmm". Is that 3/4" ? Maybe just get some new stuff...

 

[highdesertranger]

you will not be able to anchor to it. highdesertranger

 

[Free Range Chicken]

Starboard is very nice stuff...one place you might be familiar with seeing it used is outdoor fish cleaning stations.

I've never seen it in 1/4" though...that's pretty thin. I'm guessing that 1/4" is used as a finish flooring over top plywood...I don't think it's substantial enough to serve as underlayment unless there's already a subfloor.

I'm curious what thickness plywood you're currently unsatisfied with, what it's sitting on, and how it's fastened?

Edit: nevermind, just looked up your build thread. I remember reading that about how you bowed it, re-wet and weighted, and thinking "hmmmm". Is that 3/4" ? Maybe just get some new stuff...

I was planning to put only a quarter inch because I already have a half inch insulation below.
I have not seen an outdoor cleaning station, but thanks for the answer! !

 

[ccbreder]

i used 3/4 inch plywood. i don't remember the numbers, but it was from HD or Lowes and has 7 ply. It screws on two 1x2's run the length of floor. They are glued and screwed to metal. 1/2 foil faced foam insulation between the 1x2. The the 3/4 is the floor. Now I can screw furniture & stuff to the plywood and not have a bunch of new holes through the metal. Stays flat. Stays quiet. Stays not too hot and not too cold.