Regardless which type of flooring you may be considering, every floor will require some kind of subfloor preparation. Every installation is unique and will have its own preparations but time spent on preparing your plywood or concrete for new flooring – be it tile, vinyl, laminate, wood, or carpet, is time well spent for your overall satisfaction with the finished job.
Roughness or uneven sub floors will telegraph through new vinyl floors, not allow hardwood or laminate to lay straight or fit together properly, result in raised tile edges and create time consuming installation challenges.
Ideally sub floor flatness is 3/16 of an inch in 10 feet or less. In most cases, in a renovation, the existing flooring needs to be removed before a new floor can be installed to what we call a ‘flooring ready” state which means the sub floor should be:
- clean
- smooth
- structurally sound
- level
- and dry
Before new flooring can be installed. A moisture test is a good idea especially if hardwood is being considered. Know if any sealers or paints have been installed on concrete floors; they may need to be removed or ground off before a tile or glue down hardwood installation to get proper bonding of mortar or adhesive to the concrete substrate.
Make sure the floor is solid ; take the time to screw plywood sub floors down along the joists. Grind off loose concrete and high spots.
A common saying in the floorcovering industry is : “the finished floor is only as good as the base or the subfloor is”. It directly affects the performance of the finished material you choose.
Many people think floating floors can be installed over anything and cover a myriad of challenges. In reality floating floors were not designed to cover a bad subfloor and will, in time, only magnify the problem if it is not corrected before installation.
There are many products and equipment available today to address the challenges of proper floor preparation. Do your homework, take the time to learn what needs to be done to prepare for your new investment, and you’ll be much happier with the end results.
Give us a call @ 905-892-5756 and we’ll assess your situation and provide a free estimate.
Gayle Baltjes-Chataway
