Leveling Subfloor Before Hardwood Installation

A level subfloor will help your flooring last longer and keep the finish attractive.

Leveling subfloor before hardwood installation.

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. Before installing hardwood floors use a straight edge to find the humps and dips in the subfloor. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width. Hardwood floors do need a flat subfloor surface in order to prevent them from buckling after installation.

It will also save money down the road with lower maintenance and repair problems. Learn how to use a grinder. Then using a floor leveling compound or asphalt shingles shim the dips so the floor is level. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor.

Creating a flat subfloor involves lowering the high spots and raising the low ones. When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. Installation of a wood floor over the subfloor insinuates acceptance by the flooring installer. A flat level subfloor saves money upfront by reducing the labor and time it takes to install the hardwood floor.

When installing laminate vinyl tile or hardwood flooring it s important to know how to level a floor. Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals. If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage. It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before installation.

Uneven subfloors cause buckling that can warp edges or kick up an end. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet.

Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen.