Sub Flooring Problems

The material that is under your floor is referred to as sub flooring. It can be made of several different materials, such as concrete, plywood, and others. Over time, even the most well built sub flooring can require repairs from things such as mildew and cracks. It may be that water has become trapped between the main floor and the sub-floor underneath. This is just one example of something that could cause it to need repaired.

Unfortunately, when the sub flooring needs repaired, it is usually costly and time consuming. This is, however, better than letting it grow into an even bigger problem. The problem could be minor enough to only require removing a few tiles, or it could be a major project that requires you to remove the entire main floor.

Problems with the sub flooring can reveal themselves in any number of different ways. It could be a visible gap in the top floor of one of the rooms. If it is an area like the bathroom, water damage is a great possibility. You may also notice a mildew odor that is impossible to get rid of no matter what you do. It could also show up as a depression in the floor under the carpet that becomes even more noticeable when you walk on it.

You need to address these problems as soon as they are noticed.

The type of top floor that you have will dictate how you go about repairing your sub flooring. An example of this would be vinyl, which must be replaced instead of re-used. If they can be removed carefully, stone tiles can usually be used again. Wood may or may not be re-used, depending on the damage. Laminates are quite cheap to replace, but can be re-used if necessary. Carpet will almost always have to be replaced or changed to a different flooring material.

First, you should remove all flooring from the affected area. Then you can see what kind of damage you are dealing with. This is usually rotted wood from a water leak. Repairing this is not as difficult as it may seem. Remove the damaged plywood sheet. If you can't remove the entire sheet, cut out as much as possible. Just make sure the rotted part is removed. Mildew can spread from the original area, so make sure you get it all. If the problem is some type of pest infestation, you may require the services of an exterminator.

One positive in this circumstance is that it gives you the perfect opportunity to try some other type of flooring. You may want to replace that old carpet with laminate or finished concrete, for example.

You can even take advantage of the improved quality of today's flooring if you want to stay with the same style. The wood sub flooring of years ago are no match for the quality they provide today. This is due, in large part, to the improvements in wood treating. Carpets are also better suited for stain and water resistance than they once were.

When repairing the sub flooring, it needs to be as flat as can be to accept the new flooring. It also needs to be durable enough to handle whatever traffic it might see. If you do the job right the first time, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches later on.

         

Types of Flooring Options