Q. For aesthetic reasons, I would like to run 3/4x3-inch oak strip floor parallel to the floor joists, instead of perpendicular equally is typical. Is there any reason I can't do it? The subfloor is 3/iv-inch tongue-and-groove plywood.

A. Flooring contractor Howard Brickman responds: If the subfloor is stiff enough, there is no reason why solid nail-down strip flooring tin't be run parallel to the joists. Showtime, renail the existing plywood subfloor, and then that the quondam nails are tight, and add together new nails to achieve a maximum smash spacing of 6 inches.

Where flooring joists are spaced xvi inches on-center, whether or not a 3/4-inch plywood subfloor is adequate for this type of installation is a judgment telephone call. Some plywood subfloors deflect more than others. If the plywood feels strong, you volition probably be okay. If yous tin can feel some deflection, y'all take two options. If raising the flooring height is not a problem, y'all can install a layer of ane/2-inch plywood over the existing iii/four-inch plywood. The other option — assuming you lot have admission to the open up joists from below — is to install 2x4 blocking betwixt the joists, 24 inches on-center. Once the blocking is toe-nailed in identify, it should besides be fastened from to a higher place with screws through the plywood.

In the unlikely event that the existing floor joists are spaced 12 inches on-center, your 3/4-inch plywood subfloor is certainly acceptable, and you should have no problems.