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Are drywall screws suitable for attaching a 3/4" tongue-and-groove plywood subfloor?

In this case, joists are 16" O.C. and no glue will be used.

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By "drywall screws", I think you are meaning 1 5/8" blued screws. I do not think that they would be a good choice. We usually shoot down plywood subflooring with 2 1/2" to 3" ring shank nails, however 2" to 2 1/2" decking screws work well, but just a lot more work. I would encourage you to use a little adhesive on top of the floor joists or strips of felt paper or Grace ice/water shield to avoid any squeaks later on.

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    What type of adhesive? – Joe Phillips Feb 9 '14 at 17:46
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    Any good construction adhesive, but i like PL200 or PL400. – shirlock homes Feb 10 '14 at 21:51
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I wouldn't. Drywall screws should only be used for drywall, and a temporary coat hanger. You want more strength and need less space for the threads to secure the subfloor. The drywall screws have a lot of thread to hold the drywall itself, but have very little shear strength.

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In the field between the joists, they are fine. As long as you use 3" construction screws to grab the joists and proper adhesives.

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    If you're attaching plywood to the joists, why would you use screws between the joists? – Tester101 Feb 25 '15 at 16:52

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