The material you choose for your flooring is critical for your home or commercial space, but it’s not the only factor. The type of subflooring you have, its quality, and its preparation all go a long way in determining how long-lasting and secure your flooring will be.
Types of Subflooring
Just like there are many different kinds of flooring, there are also various types of subflooring. The most common types of subflooring include plywood (in newer construction homes), hardwood, and concrete. Plywood subflooring has been around for a bit less than a century, meaning that most homes in Nashville are likely to use this subflooring. Plywood is a durable and affordable material that’s made from gluing multiple thin sheets of wood together to form a strong board. Plywood is usually fairly easy to maintain, but it is susceptible to moisture damage if the floors have been neglected or the home has extremely high humidity. If repairs are necessary for wooden subflooring, it will be replaced with new plywood.
Before plywood was widely available, wooden planks served as the most common type of subflooring for homes with a raised foundation or basement. Made of hardwood, these older wooden boards are often very hardy, but their age can be a factor. Hardwood flooring and subflooring can last for decades when properly maintained, but subflooring is harder to care for because it’s hidden. Sometimes, when homeowners remove their flooring, they’re surprised to find hardwood flooring that’s in relatively good shape. Others aren’t so lucky, instead finding wood that’s possibly over a century old and in bad shape due to neglect and water damage. Concrete is another common type of subfloor most often seen in single-level homes, additions, and basements. Concrete is notable for how solid it is, making it a great support for new flooring. There are, of course, downfalls to concrete subfloors, including moisture penetration and cracking. While each type of subfloor has its pros and cons, each can be repaired or prepared for the installation of new flooring, so let’s explore how it’s done.
Preparing Subfloors for New Flooring
Subfloor preparation is vitally important to ensure a smooth and painless flooring installation. Many subfloors are in great shape, but there are situations where a subfloor needs to be fixed before a flooring contractor can install your flooring. Fortunately, in most cases, flooring companies are able to perform the required maintenance and prep work before installing your flooring.
How do you prep a subfloor for flooring? In many respects, it depends on the material. However, no matter the type of subflooring you have, it should be cleaned thoroughly before installing new floors. This helps prevent issues like allergens in carpeting, adhesion with tiles and other glue-based flooring materials, and quietness in hardwoods. Some homes are a bit quirky, and their subfloors may not be even. Uneven subfloors can be safe and work fine for some homeowners looking to have carpeting installed, but uneven or crooked subflooring can prevent the installation of many types of flooring. Preparing a subfloor for tile means thorough leveling and smoothing since tiles are rigid and need to be applied on a flat, even surface. Hardwood planks and tiles, as well as vinyl and laminate flooring, need a similar level of preparation, though there can be a bit more variation in the smoothness of a surface. Since hardwoods can absorb moisture or wear down from years of foot traffic, they can become uneven and require leveling or replacement. Concrete is porous and in direct contact with the ground, meaning moisture can come up through the concrete and damage your flooring. A plastic moisture barrier ensures that moisture does not penetrate your flooring and cause damage. This is important for preventing hardwood warping and mold growth in carpeting, especially in basements.
Prepare for Floor Installation the Right Way
Your subfloor’s condition is important for the safety of your home and the quality of your flooring, no matter what type of subflooring you have. Hopefully, you have a clearer understanding of how all these elements work together so you will be prepared for when you go with Ozburn-Hessey for your flooring installation.
