Leveling Subfloor For Hardwood Flooring

A subfloor is meant to be flat and level.

Leveling subfloor for hardwood flooring.

Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat while it s desirable to have a level floor most homes. When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. In many cases you can level a floor yourself. Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen.

It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before. How to level a wood floor sub floor. If you take the time. You ll need to know how to level a floor.

If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage you may need professional help. 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. If not your floor covering which is the solid hardwood laminate tile or other exposed flooring that goes on top of the subfloor will never be flat and level this problem can be fixed but it all depends on exactly what kind of uneven subfloor you have. Thoroughly vacuum the existing floor and use a long floor leveler and tape measure to ensure the subfloor is level within 3 16 inch for every 10 feet.

Wood floors may be installed over subfloors that are out of level such as a ramp but should still fall within floor flatness tolerances. A new hardwood or laminate floor needs a level subfloor to prevent problems such as cracking and splitting from occurring in the future.