I want to install (staple) 1/2" engineered hardwood on 3/4" plywood subfloor. My problem is that the adjacent floor (ceramic tile) is three-quarters of an inch higher that the subfloor. What can I put between the subfloor and the hardwood to offset the 1/4" difference but not cause problems down the road? 1/4" plywood? 1/4" lauan?

If I can use one or either of these, how should I put it down? Deck screws
or deck screws and glue? I assume you would need a lot of screws - would these be a pain when stapling?

Thanks for any advice/suggestions!

How about not worrying about the 1/4" difference, and just installing a transition strip that makes up the slight difference ? You will need a transition strip anyway to allow for an expansion joint.


If you insist upon making the floors absolutely the same level, I suspect that just a few cement-coated 8d "sinkers" (floor nails) will hold the plywood in place well enough and then the flooring nails/stables will provide all the additional holding power you need. A few beads of construction adhesive might help. Just make sure to use staples that are at least 1/4" longer than the min. recommended for your floor.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a pro floor installer; just an amateur who used to do a lot of general remodelling.

3/4" difference is to much to transition.
Luan works fine if you are nailing to it.

Are the two surfaces meeting in a door?

An open doorway

If you don't want to use a transition there I would use 1/4" BC grade plywood instead of luan. You can flip a reducer strip around so it transitions nicely from tile down to a wood. It would have to be a reducer made for a thinner engineered wood though. I mix them all the time.

If I'm using plywood, does it need to be glued and screwed down?

Reducer strip, huh? I was thinking I would have to use T-moulding between the tile and hardwood.

I use beads of yellow wood glue, but most guys don't and i understand their reasons. Screw it or staple it down. Reducers come in two styles, flush or overlap like a T-mold does. It would depend on how good the exposed edges of your tile is now or do you need to cover the edges.

Actually doing 2 rooms - on opposite sides of the tile - tile on one side has smooth edge- other does not. Do you know anyplace that sells reducers/t-mold 96" long?

Thanks from Va Bch!