Hardwood Flooring Installation 101: Wood Subfloor Preparation

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.