Leveling Subfloor Before Hardwood Installation

A flat level subfloor saves money upfront by reducing the labor and time it takes to install the hardwood floor.

Leveling subfloor before hardwood installation.

Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals. Hardwood floors do need a flat subfloor surface in order to prevent them from buckling after installation. When installing laminate vinyl tile or hardwood flooring it s important to know how to level a floor. Uneven subfloors cause buckling that can warp edges or kick up an end.

Then using a floor leveling compound or asphalt shingles shim the dips so the floor is level. If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean.

Hardwood floor installation can be slowed by an uneven subfloor. It will also save money down the road with lower maintenance and repair problems. A level subfloor will help your flooring last longer and keep the finish attractive. Installation of a wood floor over the subfloor insinuates acceptance by the flooring installer.

Learn how to use a grinder. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width. When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen.

Now that your subfloor is level you can proceed to put in hardwood tile laminate or carpet without having to worry about any frustrating gaps or structural imbalances. Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level. Creating a flat subfloor involves lowering the high spots and raising the low ones. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy.

Self leveling underlayment products can be used on concrete floors wood subfloors that are uneven but still in decent shape and even over ceramic tile floors eliminating the task of tearing.