Leveling Subfloor For Hardwood Flooring

A new hardwood or laminate floor needs a level subfloor to prevent problems such as cracking and splitting from occurring in the future.

Leveling subfloor for hardwood flooring.

When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6. In many cases you can level a floor yourself. Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals. Thoroughly vacuum the existing floor and use a long floor leveler and tape measure to ensure the subfloor is level within 3 16 inch for every 10 feet.

Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen. If you take the time. Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat while it s desirable to have a level floor most homes. If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage you may need professional help.

You ll need to know how to level a floor. How to level a wood floor sub floor. Now that your subfloor is level you can proceed to put in hardwood tile laminate or carpet without having to worry about any frustrating gaps or structural imbalances. A subfloor is meant to be flat and level.

Wood floors may be installed over subfloors that are out of level such as a ramp but should still fall within floor flatness tolerances. A level subfloor will help your flooring last longer and keep the finish attractive.