An
ideal wood flooring installation starts with a proper
subfloor preparation. If this is installed
poorly, the subfloor will develop costly and time wasting problems down the
line. Therefore, do not worry yourself with the time required, instead, focus
on getting the job right. A DIY subfloor preparation needs time, but it is a simple
process. On that note, this will assist
you to avoid cupping, squeaks, gapping, a loose floor and much more.
Before
you commence, make sure you have gathered the necessary materials required as nothing
slows down a job like numerous trips to the flooring outlet.
Tools
and supplies for subfloor preparation:
- Circular saw
- Hearing protection
- Eyeglasses or goggles
- Crowbar
- Knee pads
- Respirator
- 15-pound asphalt felt paper
- Plywood or OSB
- Sander
- Gloves
- Nail gun/nails or screw gun/screws
- Broom or vacuum
- Moisture meter
- Hammer
- Staple gun or hammer stapler
- Chalk line and chalk
- 6-foot or longer straightedge
DIY
subfloor preparation steps:
Step 1
Pull
up the current flooring or carpeting. In case you have a particle board as a layer, you
need to remove it as well. An upper
layer of particleboard is a disappointment for all flooring options except
floating floors.
Step 2
Check
the joists for direction and spacing. Your joist should run perpendicular to
your planking, and should be a maximum of
nineteen inches apart. If the distance between planking is above nineteen
inches, then you will need to brace between the joints.
Step 3
After
getting rid of the carpeting, tack strips, pad,
and baseboards, your subfloor should be clearly visible. Perform an excellent job when cleaning up any
old glue or debris off your subfloor. Counter-check
for protruding squeaks and nails.
Install the new subfloor layer perpendicular to the already existing
layer of subfloor. Using chalk lines,
mark on the new layer where joists located
underneath.
Step 4
Tighten
the new plywood. Either do this with a screw or nail gun. Space your fasteners at
least six inches along panel ends, and at least twelve inches along
intermediate support frames. On the other hand, the spacing between the panels
should be about an eighth of an inch.
Step 5
Sand
all the seams to make sure they connect smoothly to one another. After that,
check to ensure all fasteners are secure and not in any way sticking out.
Step 6
Check flatness all over the subfloor. Use either a level or a straight two by four,
pushing it across the floor to ensure there are no gaps. It is not mandatory that the floor is level,
but it must be flat. Your floor needs are flat to within a quarter inch over a ten-feet or three-sixteenth inch over six feet.
Step 7
It is equally
important that you confirm the level of moisture in the subfloor. A damp
subfloor may bring about buckles on your hardwood flooring. Record moisture
measurements at different places all over the surface. In as much as you can
record the moisture level and dates on the floor, it is also ideal to do the
same in your job logs. A flooring expert can assist you in determining the
maximum moisture that should be in your subfloor
before you lay down your laminate or hardwood. Confirm the manufacturer manual
for allowable moisture levels for the floor you are laying.
Step 8
Put
down the moisture barrier. The sides should overlap a few inches so flooring
will not snag when racked. Staple down
the paper.
Lastly,
as your final step in the preparation of your plywood subfloor, remark the
joists so the flooring expert can plan best on how to install the laminate or
hardwood.
