How to tell if I need to change my subfloor?
A good sub floor is essential to getting maximum performance out of your new flooring. Before you can even think about laying your new flooring, you need to first check the existing sub floor is in good condition, and this is the best time to check, when your flooring is removed. If it isn't, any imperfections underneath, like lumps, dips & wobbly bits, will be reflected in any flooring laid on top.
What is a sub floor?
Simply put, a sub floor is the surface on which a floor covering is laid. Every floor is made up of different types of layers: the joists (the structural element which supports everything on top), the subfloor, the underlay (depending on the flooring type), and finally, the decorative floorcovering on top, like carpet, laminate or vinyl.
What are the different types of subfloor?
There are lots of different types of subfloors - the main ones being wooden floorboards, screed and concrete - all of which have thier different benefits. Which type of subfloor you have in your home will depend on many factors, such as how old your house is. You might find you have different subfloors in different rooms if your home has been extended or renovated over the years.
What does a good sub floor look like?
Before the flooring can be laid you need to make sure the subfloor is dry, smooth & level, sstructurally sound, and free from debris. A subfloor in poor condition will need to be repaired before new flooring can be installed - this should be done by a professional. Here are four signs of a good sub floor:
What is a sub floor?
Simply put, a sub floor is the surface on which a floor covering is laid. Every floor is made up of different types of layers: the joists (the structural element which supports everything on top), the subfloor, the underlay (depending on the flooring type), and finally, the decorative floorcovering on top, like carpet, laminate or vinyl.
What are the different types of subfloor?
There are lots of different types of subfloors - the main ones being wooden floorboards, screed and concrete - all of which have thier different benefits. Which type of subfloor you have in your home will depend on many factors, such as how old your house is. You might find you have different subfloors in different rooms if your home has been extended or renovated over the years.
What does a good sub floor look like?
Before the flooring can be laid you need to make sure the subfloor is dry, smooth & level, sstructurally sound, and free from debris. A subfloor in poor condition will need to be repaired before new flooring can be installed - this should be done by a professional. Here are four signs of a good sub floor:
- Dry - This means completely free from moisture, not just dry to the touch. This is especially important if you've had a concrete or screed compound laid, which often takes a minimum of one day's drying time per millimetre of thickness. To test for moisture in your concrete subfloor, tape a square of polythene to it and leave it overnight. If there's condensation on the underside of polythene, or the concrete underneath is a different colour to the rest of the subfloor, then it's not fully dry yet.
- Structurally Sound - The subfloor should be solid, stable and able to provide support for anything placed on top. If you have a wooden subfloor, all the floorboards will need to be nailed, or screwed down securely or covered with plyboard if there are too many big gaps, before any new flooring can be laid.
