Subfloor Types & Preparation

If you are looking at having a new wooden floor installed, subfloor preparation is very important. The three main factors are floor levels (is the floor flat), is the floor sound (no crumbling or movement) and moisture (is the floor dry).

We receive a number of calls from people who are having issues with their wood flooring needing help and advise from a specialist, most of which are due to poor subfloor preparation.

This wood flooring was fitted on a poorly prepared subfloor, you will need your volume on to hear the creaking as I walked across. The poor home owners have lived with it for over a year as they are in a dispute with the flooring company. We were asked to visit, write a report and quote to replace.

This wood flooring was fitted on a poorly prepared subfloor, you will need your volume on to hear the creaking as i walked across. The poor home owners have lived with it for over a year as they are in a dispute with the flooring company, we were asked to visit write a report and quote to replace.

Suspended Subfloors

Suspended subfloors are timber joists covered typically by pine floorboards or chipboard.

If you have suspended subfloors and are wanting a new wooden floor we recommend fitting over the existing floorboards/chipboard.

If levelling is required this can be achieved by sanding off lumps, in extreme cases plying and screeding is required although very rare.

Concrete Subfloors

Concrete subfloors are the most common, typically 75mm thick over insulation. Floor levelling is achieved by removing high spots with our specialist diamond grinder with dust extraction, levelling compound can also be used to fill any low spots.