Securing my subfloor to joists

minimum 2" screws ...

You want screws that are partially threaded because the threaded part will be in your joist and it "pulls" the plywood down the smooth part to "clamp" it.

2" screws are enough.

Spacing of 6" along the edges and 12" elsewhere. I assume your nailing pattern has this already.

TrevorK wrote: ↑ You want screws that are partially threaded because the threaded part will be in your joist and it "pulls" the plywood down the smooth part to "clamp" it.

2" screws are enough.

Spacing of 6" along the edges and 12" elsewhere. I assume your nailing pattern has this already.

Yes I saw something like this pattern when builder nailed the subfloor down. So can I drive a screw beside every nail on the subfloor? It would be 0.5-1cm beside the nails

Depending on how much flooring you have to do, you may want to look into renting a stand-up screw gun for the job. You need to evaluate your personal balance of cheapness and laziness...

Palidino wrote: ↑ Yes I saw something like this pattern when builder nailed the subfloor down. So can I drive a screw beside every nail on the subfloor? It would be 0.5-1cm beside the nails

I would not do it beside the nails.

4"-6" on both sides of the nails add a screw. Guaranteed to have it tight.

AV-Fishing wrote: ↑ I would not do it beside the nails.

4"-6" on both sides of the nails add a screw. Guaranteed to have it tight.

So you mean if the length of the board it’s currently 6 inch spacing, I should screw on the 3rd inch basically in between. And the 12 inch short side, is probably the joist spacing I should leave that?

If the nails currently are spaced 12" ... then do screws in between the nails ...

putting screws too close to the nails would eventually have the nail heads pop up.

nails get loose over time where as screws are harder to be loosen

AV-Fishing wrote: ↑ If the nails currently are spaced 12" ... then do screws in between the nails ...

putting screws too close to the nails would eventually have the nail heads pop up.

nails get loose over time where as screws are harder to be loosen

If you put a screw beside a nail, that nail will not loosen over time. If it is already loose, it could squeak, so hit it with a hammer to make sure it’s set.

What is the advantage to putting the screw 6” away from the nail? Never heard that trick before.

Palidino wrote: ↑ Yes I saw something like this pattern when builder nailed the subfloor down. So can I drive a screw beside every nail on the subfloor? It would be 0.5-1cm beside the nails

I see no problem with that. The screw will clamp the floor down.

I see what the other poster is saying in that they feel a nail next to a screw will cause the nail to pop over time but my thought would be that putting screws in between the nails would make it more likely for the nails to pop since the subfloor would flex more around the nail (greater distance between it and the screw, which is doing a good job of keeping it secure). When the screw is beside the nail, the floor should have very little flex.

Personally I don't think either will cause a problem and it is probably just being nitpicky. Many people lay laminate over their floors that are nailed down with no issues, so the mere fact you are putting a thousand screws into yours will only improve it. Sometimes over the internet people will debate for days about something that will cause no noticeable problem.