Leveling Subfloor Before Hardwood Installation

When installing laminate vinyl tile or hardwood flooring it s important to know how to level a floor.

Leveling subfloor before hardwood installation.

A flat level subfloor saves money upfront by reducing the labor and time it takes to install the hardwood floor. 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. Hardwood floors do need a flat subfloor surface in order to prevent them from buckling after installation. Installation of a wood floor over the subfloor insinuates acceptance by the flooring installer.

Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet. 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. Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen.

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 have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage. When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. Creating a flat subfloor involves lowering the high spots and raising the low ones.

Self leveling underlayment products can be used on concrete floors wood subfloors that are uneven but still in decent shape and even over ceramic tile floors eliminating the task of tearing. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level.

Then using a floor leveling compound or asphalt shingles shim the dips so the floor is level. Learn how to use a grinder. It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before installation. A level subfloor will help your flooring last longer and keep the finish attractive.

Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals.