Hardwood Floor Subfloor Prep

Learn how to prepare for hardwood floor installation.

Hardwood floor subfloor prep. For more information download our pdf about types of subfloors. If you are nailing the hardwood floor in place choose cementitious leveling compound that you can nail through. Check the manufacturer recommendations and make sure that your sub floor meets all requirements for thickness and width. Shim areas increase vertical height.

Check clearance at the doorways. If the installers arrive at a house with an ideal subfloor the new wood flooring will go in smooth tight and flawless. Preparing for hardwood floor installation will produce the best results possible. The typical recommended thickness of the sub floor is.

Here s a step by step guide to help you prepare a wood subfloor for luxury vinyl. Remove all baseboards to create the appropriate gap at the floor edges for expansion as recommended by the manufacturer. Make sure they re snug. Measure carefully to ensure that the plywood is an appropriate fit.

Wood sub floors should be screwed to the underlying floor joists at 6 inch intervals. Preparation for installing floor tile depends on the type of subfloor in the room you are tiling. Preparing for hardwood floor installation will produce the best results possible. If you have any squeaky areas before the hardwood is installed take care of it before it s too late.

Often plywood will loosen from the floor joists over time. Use builder s felt or shingles stapled to the floor to fill small low spots if you. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width. About the floor prep before i continue.

If a floor plank and underlayment or adhesive will not fit under the door casing cut the casing with a backsaw about 1 16 inch above the level of the new flooring. Cover your existing subfloor area where new vinyl flooring will be installed with 1 4 inch plywood. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. Look beneath the surface the key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor.

It supports your decorative floor finish whether it s carpet hardwood vinyl laminate or tile.