How To Level Floors Before Installing New Hardwood

Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy.

How to level floors before installing new hardwood.

Level floors are critical for reducing gaps between the flooring material and substrate and preventing sagging and other structural complications. Whether you re going on to install hardwood ceramic tile or laminate one of the most important steps of any flooring project is making sure the subfloor foundation is level. The correct direction for laying hardwood floors. Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat.

A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. How to level a subfloor for a hardwood floor install. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.

Installation of a wood floor over the subfloor insinuates acceptance by the flooring installer. While personal preference is a factor the direction in which you run hardwood flooring boards is governed by visual and structural guidelines. Failing to properly acclimate wood flooring may cause excessive expansion shrinkage dimensional distortion or structural damage. How to install a tile floor transition any diyer with moderate skills can install a wood molding transition between tile and hardwood floors giving a stylish finish between the two materials.

It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before installation. This process is known as hardwood acclimation. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. Before taking steps to level a floor you must find out why it s not level.

When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. Leveling a floor can be either a do it yourself project or a job for the pros depending on what s causing the problem.