9 Common Signs Your Subflooring Needs Repairs
Do your hardwood floors squeak when you walk? Does your laminate flooring feel as if it has a soft spot underneath? Do your carpets feel squishy? When you have these pressing issues, you should wonder what's happening under the surface.
Subflooring damage usually happens when there's overexposure to moisture. This could come from too much humidity, a plumbing leak, or even a crack in the home's exterior. While the thought of making significant repairs and replacing subfloors is daunting, these cannot be ignored if you want to prevent escalation. Learn more about this issue here.
What is a Subfloor?
You may be confused about the difference between an ordinary floor and a subfloor. As the name implies, a subfloor is a solid material beneath your main flooring material. It is typically attached to floor joists, serving as a base for finished flooring materials like hardwood, tile, carpet, bamboo, or laminate.
Usually, this is made from plywood or oriented strand board panels (OSB). In areas below grade, like a basement, the concrete foundation often acts as the subfloor for materials like vinyl or hybrid. However, subflooring materials can still be installed over concrete using sleepers. Proper subfloor preparation is essential for correct flooring installation.
Does Everyone Have a Subfloor?
Not necessarily. This depends on several factors including the flooring material used and where the materials are being installed. For above-grade laminate, carpet, or hardwood, it's advisable to have plywood or OSB because these flooring materials cannot go directly to a floor joist.
For below-grade floors, materials can be installed directly to concrete as long as moisture barriers have been put in place. If you are concerned about your floors, a flooring inspection will help.
Most Common Signs of Subfloor Damage
The most common culprit of subfloor damage is wetness. Usually, you'll find this where plumbing fixtures like tubs, toilets, shower areas, sinks, or washers are located. Less common reasons include impacts from a dropping a heavy object, fire, and flooding due to a natural disaster. If you're concerned about the state of your subfloors, it's essential to watch out for signs of damage, such as the following:
- Uneven floors
If your floor has a soft spot or section that has recessed, this could indicated the weakening of the subfloor. Bubbling in flooring materials like linoleum can also be caused by moisture. If you spot irregularities in your floor, you need to call a professional to have the subfloor checked. You want to rule out water damage. Furthermore, rotting areas need to be replaced to prevent escalation.
- Squeaky floors
When simply walking across the floor creates a considerable amount of noise, the subfloors could be an issue. When the nails connecting the subfloors to the joists squeak, it means they're loose. Creaking noises could also be a sign that the materials have warped.
- Musty smell
Notice a musty smell? This could be due to mould and mildew, which are sure signs of water damage. Call a professional immediately, because you're likely dealing with water damage on the subfloor.
- Springy feeling
We all love when happiness gives a bounce in our step. However, when this feeling comes from the floor, it means the material underneath is shifting. The floor should not be springy, bouncy, or spongy when you walk across it.
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Loose toilet
If your toilet feels loose, this is a surefire sign that the subfloor below has decayed. As a result, it cannot securely anchor the toilet fasteners. The culprit could be a slow leak in the pipes. Get this fixed quickly, or the problem will spread through the rest of the room.
- Cracks in the surface
When you have a lot of noticeable cracks in your floor, this could mean your subfloors are no longer doing their job. If the subfloor is no longer firm and strong, it cannot hold up the materials sitting atop it. It's important to get this inspected to find out the root cause. For example, tile flooring installed over plywood or OSB must have a cement backer board between the panels and tiles to support the weight of the tiles.
- Cupping of wood
If your bamboo or hardwood floors are cupping, a phenomenon where the edges of the floor rise, it could be due to moisture warping the materials beneath them. Fortunately, you can reverse this by drying the flooring thoroughly with the help of professional services.
- Leaky ceiling
A leaky ceiling is concerning because subfloor materials absorb moisture. If you have a slow leak, it may take some time before you notice the problem. By then, your subfloor materials are completely soaked. In addition to calling a roofing specialist, you need a flooring specialist to assess for damage in the subfloor.
- Poorly installed entry doors
If your entry or exterior doors are not fitted correctly, they will not protect the subfloor from rain and snow. Therefore, it's common to for decay to appear in basements or crawl spaces. During the warmer months, the presence of water increases humidity. Consequently, subflooring panels degrade and deteriorate rapidly.
When you're facing issues with your subfloors or suspect anything is amiss, call a reputable flooring service immediately. Our team is ready to assist you with your flooring issues. We have a broad range of flooring products that meet your needs. Remember, waiting will only escalate the problem and result in more complex and expensive repairs. Visit https://www.prolinefloors.com.au/ now for more details.
Check out this article for some additional ideas!
Signs Your Home’s Subflooring Needs Dire Repairs
Out of sight, out of mind. If you can’t see something, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. This is especially true for the structure inside your walls and under your floor. But you don’t want to make the mistake of ignoring your subflooring. Otherwise, you could end up needing to make costly repairs. We’ve put together this guide to show you the tell-tale signs you need to replace your subfloor. Keep reading below to learn more!
How Long Does Subfloor Last?
It’s difficult to put an exact number on the lifespan of subflooring. 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.
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