The importance of a proper subfloor system. A subfloor serves as the critical foundation between your home's structural frame and the finished flooring material. It provides essential support, stability, and a level surface for your hardwood installation.
Above grade, hardwood, carpet, laminate and other floor coverings need a plywood or OSB panel subfloor, as they cannot be installed directly to floor joists. Below grade, a plywood or OSB subfloor is optional, depending on your choice of flooring.
Ceramic & Porcelain Tile
A major benefit of ceramic or porcelain tile floors in the basement is that you don't need an underlayment or subfloor beneath them. You can lay the tile directly over the concrete, as long as the slab is clean and level.
Except for those that have concrete slabs, all houses have joists. While there are some instances where you could have less layers to your flooring, that would be the exception to the rule. In almost every instance there is the floor covering, the underlayment, the subfloor, and the floor joists.
Floor covering is the topmost layer that you see and walk on such as ceramic tile, solid wood, laminate, engineered wood, luxury vinyl, or carpeting. Floor covering is not structural, so it will always have a subfloor under it.
While a subfloor is not necessary to add structural strength when you'll be laying finish flooring on top of a concrete slab (as in a basement remodel), subflooring over concrete offers two other advantages: Dampness control. Install a vapor barrier of plastic sheeting before laying the subfloor.
When Should You Replace Subfloors? There are many signs that your damaged subfloor should be replaced with a new subfloor. These include squeaks and other noises, cupping or warping, cracked or popped tiles, sagging or unevenness, the smell of mold or mildew, or bubbling tile.
There are many factors that can affect its longevity, such as the material, the amount of moisture it's exposed to, etc. However, most subfloors can last as long as the home itself. That said, you may have to replace your subflooring after 20 to 30 years if it has absorbed too much water too often.
As NWFA Guidelines indicate, the only wood flooring you can install directly to a solid board subfloor or an existing wood floor is ¾” solid or engineered wood flooring. These types of floors can be installed perpendicular to or on a diagonal to the direction of the existing flooring.
Ground moisture rising into or entering the subfloor space can create a damp environment which encourages timber rot, fungus growth and the potential for termite activity. Subfloor ventilation increases air flow, reducing any damaging water vapour in the subfloor space.
Both plywood and OSB are effective choices for your subfloor needs, but OSB may be a better option for a garage than plywood. Plywood is a better option for projects that require a lot of cutting and molding, while OSB is a good option for those who need to cover areas where moisture exposure may be an issue.
Most modern vinyl flooring, such as Happy Feet, comes with an attached underlayment or pad, often with a moisture barrier built-in – unless the pad is cork. If the product you choose doesn't have an attached underlayment, you can almost always install directly over the subfloor without one.
Use an underlayment, floor leveler or floor patch product to fix low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. An underlayment is a thin layer of material sandwiched between two other materials. It's used to help insulate, absorb sound and reduce wear on your floor. It can also serve as a vapor barrier.
Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.
Without a proper subfloor, even the highest quality hardwood flooring can develop problems like squeaking, sagging, or warping over time. Think of it as the backbone of your flooring system – while it may not be visible, its role is absolutely vital for long-term performance.
While you can successfully install certain types of flooring over old surfaces, doing so often comes with risks like uneven surfaces, potential moisture issues, and door clearance problems.
Installing subfloors incorrectly could lead to costly repairs and additional replacements down the road. It's best to work with a local flooring contractor to replace subfloors, but you can DIY the project if you have experience installing them, which could save you between $25 and $30 per hour on labor costs.
Key Thought: Subfloors, often made from plywood or OSB, are the unseen heroes beneath our feet. They give a sturdy platform for your chosen flooring material and distribute weight evenly to prevent warping and creaks. But beware - improper installation over floor joists can lead to big problems like water damage.
Underlayment. Underlayment is a layer of material between the subfloor and the finished flooring. Underlayment provides a smooth, level surface for installing luxury vinyl tile, laminate flooring, and hardwood floors. There are different types of underlayment, each with their own purpose.
A wet subfloor doesn't always need to be replaced, but it must be thoroughly dried and assessed for damage. Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry it out. If the subfloor is swollen, warped, or has mold growth, replacement is necessary.
Improperly spaced and placed subfloor panels can cause performance issues and lead to various structural failures, such as raised joints or buckling. While installing panels too tightly or without any gaps won't allow the material to expand and contract, leaving too much gap can cause excessive movement and noises.
Its primary function is to provide a stable, flat surface for the installation of the finished floor. Subflooring acts as a structural support system for your flooring, distributing the weight of furniture, foot traffic, and other loads evenly.
Particle board is a material made from wood chips and shavings that are bonded together with glue. It is the cheapest type of subflooring but is also not as durable. Wood board is among traditional flooring materials but has been mostly replaced by plywood subflooring.
The answer is yes! You can install concrete over plywood.