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Correct floor preparation with hardwood floor
installations is the single most important part of the
job. It insures the floor will be a success one year
from now or twenty.
What Is
Floor Preparation?
Floor preparation involves steps that must be followed
before any actual installation. Checking for flatness or
securing loose wood subfloors are all key aspects making
sure the subfloor is in sound condition before it is
covered with any new final floor. An age old saying in
the floor business sums it up well; "your final floor
will only be as good as your subfloor." The quality of
any new floor will be compromised just as much as a
cheaper priced floor if these steps are not followed.
But The Other Guy Said I Need A Level Subfloor
I have yet
to run into a hardwood installer that has a level in his
tool bag. Levels are for block masons, trim
carpenters, or marble tile setters. Sure some
installation instructions may say level but they're
really trying to say flat. Specifications call for
subfloors being within a tolerance of 3/16 of one inch
over a span of eight to ten feet. In other words, if
there is a dip in the middle that measures 1/4" from
each side in a ten foot range it should be taken care
of.
Okay. How To Check For Flat?
A
simple string line works well to check for flatness, or
a straight 2 x 4. More on the subject at the page links
below.
Other Forms Of Floor Prep
It
may be as simple as removing all those clumps of mud the
drywall dudes left behind. New floors do not function
well when there is a void underneath. They need to lay
as flat as possible to the subfloor. Without true
flatness and once they are walked on, boards will flex
or may rub together. This is where those squeaks may
come into play. You may not notice it right away but a
few months or a year, they will haunt you.
For
glued type installations to concrete all paint should be
removed (more discussion at the link below). Plywood
subfloors should be flat especially where the plywood
sheets meet. Nails should be set if they are protruding
from the subfloor. These may also exist between the
subfloor and the floor joist system. If any areas feel
squishy or sag before the hardwood is installed fix
them. Think VOIDS, we don't need any voids. For older
homes that do not have actual subfloors, floor joist
systems should be checked for plane.
Floating Floors
Don't let misleading instructions fool you. I never
understood why some underlayment manufacturers mention
their product helps correct minor subfloor
irregularities. What many do it yourselfers do not
realize is what minor means. It may help to fill
the void in the short term but once that floor is
installed and it begins to feel squishy, it's just a
matter of time before the boards interlocking mechanism
is compromised and the squeaking starts.
Other Notes
Some
tract home builders don't want to hear about floor
preparation because they have to pay to have it
corrected. I've even know some retailers to balk at
paying an installer that has put in extra time to insure
proper floor preparation. Why? They did not figure it
into the costs of the installation and it cuts into
their profit margin. They often never get paid from the
builder either.
Folks, lack of floor preparation is rampant in the
flooring business, specifically with hardwood and
laminate installations. When interviewing potential
installers ask what type of floor preparation may be
needed. If they're covered by carpet it will be
difficult to assess, but if you get a reply along the
lines of just scraping or sweeping floors you should
look elsewhere.
Make it
clear to anyone performing the work you want it done
right and don't shriek at the costs. Floor preparation
can get expensive as installers charge by time and
material. Taking shortcuts by failing to look at floor
prep seriously will only cause headaches at a later
date.
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