Subflooring rests directly on the floor joists of a building, providing support for the finishes flooring above. Subflooring can become damaged over time, such as from water leakage or from age and wear. If the flooring is damaged, it will need to be replaced to provide a firm surface for the finished flooring that rests on it. In most cases, a floor that feels soft or gives when weight is put on it indicates a damaged subfloor, and indicates that it should be replaced. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Check the subflooring from a lower level, whether this is your basement, a crawlspace or a lower floor. If the subflooring appears wet or damp or has any other sign of weakness, it needs to be replaced. While you are checking from below, note the location of any pipes or wires to avoid while cutting the floor from above. Also note the damaged areas of subflooring that will need to be removed.
2. Remove the finished flooring from the area of subflooring you are going to replace. If you have tile floors, you will need to bust the tiles with a hammer and then finish the removal with a pry bar. If you have carpet, use the pry bar to pry the carpet loose from the edge of the room, and pull it up by hand. For wood floors, cut a hole in the finished flooring with a saw, and use the pry bar to finish removing the subfloor.
3. Cut a hole in the subflooring with a circular saw. Use the pry bar to remove the subflooring from the floor joists. If you have difficulty prying the subfloor up, go to the level below and use a hammer to knock the flooring loose. Remove any nails or screws left in the floor joists after the subflooring has been removed.
4. Measure the area for new flooring. The new pieces of subflooring must rest from the center of one floor joist to the center of another in order to provide proper support. Cut the new pieces of subflooring to the proper size.
5. Lay the new flooring in place. Drive nails or screws through the new subflooring and into the floor joists every 6 inches, including the floor joists in the middle of the sheets of flooring. Continue fitting the new flooring in until the area is finished.
Tags: floor joists, finished flooring, will need, nails screws, pieces subflooring, subflooring from
