We often forget to consider the importance of the things we can't see when we install a new flooring. The subfloor is the foundation for any floor. It's the key to how durable and beautiful your new flooring will be. Here are some tips for those who feel lost and unsure about how to prepare their subfloor.
Clean the Subfloor
First, make sure that your subfloor is clean. You must ensure that your subfloor is free from any debris, such as grease, paint, oil, or wax, and also remove protrusions like nails. If concrete subfloors are to be leveled, they must also have been sanded or poured if wood. You can find more information on cleaning subfloors in our installation guide. It is essential to clean a subfloor. This will prevent you from having an uneven floor.
First, make sure that your subfloor is clean. You must ensure that your subfloor is free from any debris, such as grease, paint, oil, or wax, and also remove protrusions like nails. If concrete subfloors are to be leveled, they must also have been sanded or poured if wood. You can find more information on cleaning subfloors in our installation guide. It is essential to clean a subfloor. This will prevent you from having an uneven floor.
Assess the Subfloor Structure
You can only install the floor if the subfloor structure is solid. You can check the plywood sheets on a wooden subfloor to make sure they aren't squeaky or loose. If some sheets are loose or squeaky, screw them into the floor joints. Concrete requires that you use a self-levelling agent if it needs to be evened out. You should also know the thickness of your subfloor. The thicker the subfloor is, the better it will hold. Ideal is 2 cm or more.
Your new flooring could be damaged if it is too moist from the subfloor. Hardwood flooring is especially vulnerable to moisture from the subfloor. If there is too much moisture, the wood can seep through the flooring and cause permanent damage. Water can cause damage to the core of engineered and laminate flooring. This flooring is not waterproof but may be water-resistant. Installing a damp proof membrane (DPM) is one way to avoid this. This is commonly found in underlays and can be found on our webpage. To be safe, we recommend this membrane with all types of flooring. There are moisture kits that can be purchased to test the moisture level in your subfloor. The manufacturer should be contacted to confirm that the floor can withstand the moisture level you have measured.
The moment has finally arrived. Once you have prepared your subfloor, it is time to install your flooring. We recommend that you start in the middle of your room so the planks can lay more easily. How do you locate the centre? You can find the centre by marking each wall with a mark and then connecting the opposite marks with a line that runs down the middle of the room. The cross-shaped result is the centre of your room. Then, you can lay the floor towards the exteriors.
This is how to make sure your subfloor is perfect!
Let us know what you think
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