Laying wooden floors on existing subfloors can sometimes be a real challenge. Dealing with any defects will be essential to getting the perfect result. As the owner of one of Mandurah’s leading surface preparation companies, I’ve got some advice for you all on how you can fix any subfloor issues facing timber floor removal damage. These should help you prepare for a stable floor fit. You can contact us for free consultation on 0418 734 225.
Laying wood flooring on an existing subfloor can sometimes bring about challenges. And tackling defects is key to ensuring a successful result. Here’s our advice on fixing subfloor issues to prepare for a sound and stable floor fit.
#1. Soundness
Older properties usually have subfloors deteriorated with age. They might not provide a balanced and stable base for new wood floors. You might also need to pay attention to brand new screeds.
First off, you need to ensure you deal with any rot or infestation in the timber subfloors, firmly fixing or re-levelling any distorted or loose boards and joists. You can overlay good quality plywood on uneven boards to get a stable and smooth base.
Old floor screeds usually become friable and soft. Sometimes you also end up having to repair or replace the structural concrete. New floor screeds also need to be tested for soundness because a badly mixed batch or a weak cement ratio can result in a loose surface.
Existing finishes like parquet blocks and plastic or ceramic tiles should always be treated with a lot of caution because they might be hiding another issue. It usually is very tricky to evaluate how soundly bonded they really are to the structural substrate.
What we recommend is that it is wise to remove any existing finishes and get the subfloor prepared from a sound base. A point to watch out for is an older finish being installed for the purpose of damp proofing. This is why you might have to install a new membrane once the older finish is removed. We’re available if you want us for a
free site assessment.
#2. Levelling
For a good result you will need to ensure the subfloor is flat. Wood floors can be extremely intolerant to any symptoms that cause unevenness such as squeaking, adhesive debonding, bouncing or joint failure.
We always recommend to our customers that when looking for dips or bumps, they shouldn’t exceed 3mm over any 2 metre area. Some levelling might be needed where undulation is greater. You can shum old joists to achieve a level structure that can be used to lay a new finish, and plywood or old boarding can be overlaid with a good quality fibre reinforced levelling compound.
#3. Manage Moisture
Older properties and sometimes even newer ones can suffer from moist subfloors. Since this cannot usually be fixed at the source, you’ll need to take action to focus on having the new wood floor protected.
Using a liquid DPM will usually hold back a fairly large amount of residual moisture in the new floor screed. Where the moisture level is too high or likely to come back (such as in old properties), having a damp proof barrier will offer an underlay as well as a waterproof layer.
A separating membrane should be used to block moisture transfer where a new floor is nailed down to old timber structure. You should also be aware of the damp subfloors if the moisture levels are varying depending on the groundwater levels. A period of heavy rains can cause a much greater problem here.
I understand that all this can be a bit overwhelming and confusing, which is why
WA Surface is here to provide you all the support you need.
