Where to get 5/8" plywood or alternative?

[rogerdodger]

I have a small (1 foot square) repair to the floor in front of the door. Any sources, or other material of the same thickness??

[perryg114]

Try Lowes or Home Depot. The external glue clear on one side stuff is what was used on my trailer and it was only 15/16" thick (nominal 1/2" thick).

Perry

[rogerdodger]

Originally Posted by perryg114

15/16" thick (nominal 1/2" thick).

Perry

What does that mean?

[newsgauger]

Hi Roger,

Depending on what stores you visit, they might call it 'Construction Grade' plywood. And, with regards to thickness some places still use imperial versus metric sizings.

Good Luck,
Chris

[Gene]

You may have a special order to get plywood with water resistant glues. For one 4 x 8 sheet, this may be expensive. Try an old fashioned lumber yard rather than Lowe's or Home Depot because it may be easier to get what you want. The big box stores will special order too, but may not know what you are talking about.

Most US plywood seems to still be in the inch system, but sometimes they have it both in metric and inch. 5/8" = 15.88 mm. There may be slight differences in thickness with metric plywood and you can either sand it or shim it depending.

I place that works on boats may have marine plywood and have some scraps they will sell or give you.

Gene

[perryg114]

Most plywood now days uses exterior glue and it will say so. Have you measure the thickness of your subfloor? Mine was about 1/2" thick but it was marked 15/16" which is close enough. I think the older trailers used at thick as 3/4" plywood. I am not sure but I don't think any of the 70's plus trailers used marine plywood. In the 80's they started using particle board. I think mine used CDX plywood. I put marine plywood back in.

CDX Grade Plywood–i.e. C-D Exposure 1 Plywood - See See Plywood

The above or better grade plywood is what you want.

Perry

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by perryg114

...

Mine was about 1/2" thick but it was marked 15/16" which is close enough.

...

Perry

OK, I am confused by that. 1/2" is 8/16", 1" is 16/16". It seems to me that 15/16" should be a lot closer to 1" than 1/2".

[Gene]

They more recently have used a plywood that is not marine grade, but uses a water proof glue. On some trailers for a short time they used OSB, but that was a bad choice and they stopped doing it.

Here is the info on what is used now from a company document:
"Plywood Flooring—Travel Trailers
Airstream currently uses plywood flooring on all products.
The flooring is Sturd-I-Floor (APA), Exposure 1, with WPB (water and boil proof) type bonding adhesive.
The flooring is 19/32” (5/8”), tongue and groove.

"Bond Classification
Exposure 1 panels have a fully waterproof bond, WPB (weather and boil proof), and are designed for applications where long construction delays may be expected prior to providing protection, or where high moisture conditions may been countered in service. Exposure 1 panels are made with the same exterior adhesives used in exterior panels.

"Plywood Glue Bond: Durability Classification
· All APA trademarked plywood has a 100% fully waterproof glue line."

Whether this plywood was used when your trailer was made I don't know. I think OSB was used in the entry line trailers for a short time in the mid-'00's. I don't think it was ever used in 25's.

Perry, do you mean 15/16 mm., not 15/16"? That would be close to 5/8".

Gene

[perryg114]

My Mistake 18/32 but it measured a true 1/2". Make sure you measure what you have and compare it to what you are getting before you bring it home. Here is a photo of what is in mine from 1981.

http://www.motorcycleproducts.org/AS...s/IMG_4720.JPG


Perry

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by perryg114

My Mistake 18/32 but it measured a true 1/2". Make sure you measure what you have and compare it to what you are getting before you bring it home. Here is a photo of what is in mine from 1981.

http://www.motorcycleproducts.org/AS...s/IMG_4720.JPG


Perry

That sounds more like it.

[Phoenix]

Lumber and plywood have "nominal" and "actual" dimensions. The nominal size is applicable to unseasoned/green and/or unfinished wood. The actual, finished size is usually somewhat smaller. Measure a 2x4 (nominal size) and it will probably be around 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches. Hence the difference between the commonly referred to "nominal" dimensions, and the "actual" measurements. Good advice, above; measure and use "actual" dimensions to make sure you get what you want.

We had some plywood repairs done in our boat, and the repair guy used exterior grade plywood that he coated several times with some kind of marine epoxy. He appeared to know what he was doing and said that the treated pieces would hold up better to moisture than the marine plywood most people use. Sorry, don't know exactly what he used; but so far, so good.

[rogerdodger]

Mine measures 5/8". I checked Lowes, they have 1/2" and 3/4". I only need about 1-2 square feet. Don't feel good buying a 4X8 for a small project. No boat builders around here, too far from water.LOL Will check Home Depot.

[Bill M.]

About the glue: all southern pine plywood is glued with a water resistant glue. The main difference in marine plywood and exterior plywood is the quality of the laminations. No big holes in the marine. I have used 3/4 inch to patch my 5/8" OSB floor. I take a hand plane or a router and bevel the edge where it needs to be 5/8. (just like Airstream does on the front curve). Or you could use 1/2 inch and some al spacers to match it up to the cleats on the back.

[cameront120]

5/8" is a very common plywood thickness. Try going to a real lumber yard for it. They should have offcuts for sale. If you can't find 5/8", buy 1/2" and some floor levelling compound to make up the difference.

[Steve Bryant]

I have done some checking locally and neither Home Depot nor Lowe's nor any other chain building supply stores carry 5/8" (19/32") plywood. However, one of the few remaining local building material stores, Star Lumber, carries nominal 5/8" exterior plywood in both AC (about $34/sheet) and AB (about $44/sheet) and both are decent looking. It's interesting about what you can and can't get and where.

Although my trailer has 5/8" OSB floors, I'm planning to use 3/4" plywood as it's a better thickness match to the adjacent OSB that is still in fairly "good" shape except for some swelling due to moisture and the fact that it's sitting on some fiberglass insulation. I plan to plane the perimeter that goes into the C channel.

Steve

[Wabbiteer]

Hate to sounds like a broken record but check with smaller advertising 'sign' workshops and see where they get their signboard plywood from. I went that way with true 3/4" 49x99" MDO (medium density overlay) and am very happy with it - for about the same money as the AB you mentioned.

[rogerdodger]

Originally Posted by cameront120

5/8" is a very common plywood thickness. Try going to a real lumber yard for it. They should have offcuts for sale. If you can't find 5/8", buy 1/2" and some floor levelling compound to make up the difference.

Thank you, I did find a "REAL" lumber yard, had to buy a 4X8, hopefully I won't need it all. Will have it for other projects.

[Gene]

I hate buying 4 x 8 sheets when I only need a little, but eventually it all gets used.

Gene