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can you repair subfloor from underneath

by Andy McGlynn Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

How to Repair Subfloor from Underneath?

  • Assess the Damage. The best way to assess the condition of your subfloor is by examining it from underneath. ...
  • Determine the Cause of Damage. ...
  • Prevent Leaks Before They Happen. ...
  • Fixing the Water Damage. ...
  • People Also Ask (FAQs) How Long Does It Take to Replace a Subfloor? ...
  • Wrapping Up. ...

Part of a video titled How to Repair Bathtub Subfloor Damage Underneath in ...
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It's light damage then you can and you can actually just a little bit of damage when I would sayMoreIt's light damage then you can and you can actually just a little bit of damage when I would say something like that would be the plywood.

Full Answer

How much should it cost to replace a subfloor?

The cost of your subfloor 1 replacement largely depends on the square footage of the area. On average, you can expect to pay between $3 to $12 per sq.ft. to replace the subfloor in your home. The price you pay depends on where the subfloor is located, the materials used, and whether or not the installer installs the floor around walls.

How to prepare my subfloor before installing hardwood?

  • Shimming the subfloor is a common method to flatten to required tolerance. ...
  • 3-tab roofing shingles may range from 1/16”-3/8” in thickness, or more, depending on the quality/style. ...
  • Sheet vinyl products such as linoleum may range up to 1/8” in thickness. ...

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How to replace damaged subflooring under toilet?

  • Start exposing the floor to fresh air by removing any rugs or furniture. ...
  • Any wet drywall needs to be removed anyway, so remove the ceiling drywall below the damage to expose the floor joists.
  • Create air movement with box fans ( available on Amazon ), both on top of the finished flooring and the floor below. ...

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How to remove and replace a rotten subfloor?

Remove the Subfloor From Under the Wall If your subfloor is heavily rotted, you may be able to pull back on the remaining section of the subfloor and remove it by hand. If not, attach a 3/4-inch auger bit to the drill and drill to a depth of 3 1/2 inches underneath the wall bottom plate on both sides of the rotted area.

Can subfloor be replaced?

If your subfloor is in need of replacement, the damaged portion will need to be completely cut out. This also requires the removal of all floor covering over the problem area as well as the accompanying underlayment materials. The process for this portion of the job will vary based on the type of flooring you have.

How do I repair a damaged subfloor?

How to Fix a Water-Damaged Subfloor: Your 8-Step DIY GuideStart by Stopping the Water. ... Expose the Subflooring. ... Make Your Mark. ... Carefully Cut Subflooring. ... Remove Damaged Materials. ... Speed Up the Drying Process. ... Reinforce Floor Joists. ... Install Your New Subflooring.

How do you replace a rotted section of a subfloor?

0:105:46How to replace repair rotted sub floor, rotten floor. Easy! Home MenderYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst thing I need to do is find out which way my joists are running. I want to reach in and I canMoreFirst thing I need to do is find out which way my joists are running. I want to reach in and I can feel the joist this. Way.

Do you have to replace the subfloor under a wall?

Replacing a subfloor under a wall may become necessary if the subfloor is no longer structurally sound. A subfloor is the solid base underneath the floor covering that you depend on for the stability of both the floor and walls in a room.

How much does it cost to replace a subfloor?

Cost to Repair Subfloor*12Subfloor repair, entire room$300 - $400Subfloor replacement, small area$400 - $500Subfloor replacement, entire room$570 - $720*Prices based on a 500-square-foot room for entire room, 100-square-feet for small area1 more row•Mar 24, 2022

Do I need to replace water damaged subfloor?

The best choice for damaged subflooring is usually to have it replaced — especially if it is growing mold. In severe situations, it may feel like replacing the flooring is the only action you can take.

How long does it take for subfloor to rot?

Under normal conditions, a subfloor can last as long as the house itself. However, should a subfloor be damaged or defective, it may only last 20 to 30 years.

How do I know if my subfloor needs to be replaced?

9 Common Signs of Subfloor DamageYour floors are uneven or sunken in parts. ... Your floorboards squeak – loudly. ... The room smells musty. ... Your floors shift or bounce when you walk on them. ... Your toilet is rocking or loose. ... Your tile flooring has cracked. ... Your hardwood floor is cupping. ... Your linoleum floor is bubbling up.More items...•

What is the difference between subfloor and underlayment?

Basically, subfloors are a structural part of your home that provide strength and rigidity to your home's flooring. Underlays, on the other hand, protect your floor covering from moisture, help soundproof your floor, and offer cushioning and comfort underfoot.

How do you fix water damaged subfloor under the wall?

1:4711:07How To Repair Damaged Floor Framing Under Load Bearing ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first step will be to remove. The drywall in the damaged area. And I hate to say it butMoreThe first step will be to remove. The drywall in the damaged area. And I hate to say it but sometimes it's going to be better to go a little farther. Back in some of these spots.

How do you fix rotted plywood?

There are two basic ways of repairing rotten plywood, by replacement or by treating it with epoxy-based compounds. The decision usually comes down to one of cost, with larger repairs requiring replacement, rather than repair. The first thing to do is to identify the extent and source of the damage.

How do I strengthen my subfloor?

Fix bouncy floors by adding bridging, adding a layer of plywood or adding a wall or beam. We'll show you three ways to stiffen up your bouncy floor—by adding bridging, installing plywood along the joists and adding a wall or beam under the floor. Any one of the three can solve your problem, depending on your situation.

Why brace a subfloor?

Bracing the subfloor adds structural integrity to the floor system. An improperly braced subfloor can sag and cause structural problems, like doors that won't close properly, or annoyances such as squeaks when the floor is walked on. Advertisement.

What is subfloor bracing?

Subfloors are braced by various framing components. Image Credit: Hans Hansen/Lifesize/Getty Images. Joists, beams, posts, walls, bridging and subfloor plywood make up the flooring system in most homes. Bracing the subfloor adds structural integrity to the floor system.

How far apart are subfloor joists?

The subfloor sheeting attaches to the joists. The joists are the large pieces of lumber that run parallel to each other and are usually spaced 16 to 24 inches apart, measured from the center of one joist to the center of the next. In some applications, 48-inch spacing is allowed.

What prevents joists from twisting?

Bridging prevents the joists from twisting. When the joists twist, they pull away from the subfloor sheeting, and the structural integrity of the floor is compromised. Bridging braces the joists against each other with diagonal metal bars or wooden boards between the joists.

How do I know if I need to replace a subfloor?

Should this be the case, a homeowner might need to peel back the layers of flooring and get to work. Here are five signs it’s time to replace a subfloor. 1. Those squeaks could be calling for your attention. It’s not uncommon for flooring to have a little squeak to it.

What is a subfloor made of?

Depending on when a home was built, a subfloor could be made from softwood boards like pine or fir, plywood, or OSB (oriented strand board). OSB is a composite of glue and strips of scrap wood, in sheets 4 feet wide and 8 or 12 feet long.

How long does OSB subfloor last?

Under normal conditions, a subfloor can last as long as the house itself. However, should a subfloor be damaged or defective, it may only last 20 to 30 years.

Why does my floor squeak?

If your floor is starting to sound like the Tin Man without his oil can, however, it might require some attention. Squeaking occurs when the wood in your subfloor rubs against a nail.

What does it mean when a floor sinks?

Sinking sections are tell-tale signs of subfloor failure. Issues with a subfloor become far more apparent when walking through a living room feels more like a stroll through rolling hills. If a floor begins to sink between floor joists, it’s a sure sign that there is an issue.

Is it too late to subfloor?

It’s difficult to know everything that goes on below your flooring. Underneath the hardwood, laminate, tile, or carpet lies the subfloor, and it’s a component that only gets attention during a full-scale renovation or a full-blown problem. Even some of the telltale signs are easy to ignore. By the time that the issue becomes apparent, it might be too late for your subfloor.

Do nails work on subfloors?

Under ideal circumstances, the nails hold the subfloor firmly to the joists, avoiding any squeaking issues. Should that subfloor begin to warp or twist (especially common in softwood subfloors), nails will begin to work themselves loose from the joists and those squeaks will begin to speak up. Advertisement. 2.

Can you remove subflooring from under tile?

There's no way you're going to be able to remove the subflooring from under the tile without disturbing it. Now if this is just a small area of the floor, it may be possible to remove the tiles without damaging them, cut out and replace the rotten subfloor, and then replace the tiles making it look okay.

Is the floor joist good?

The floor joist are good and one section of sub-floor was given more strength by placing treated plywood on top of it and "picture frame" framing it in. But - several other sections are so rotted that we can see bits of the tile in the kitchen above. I cannot afford to gut the whole kitchen and I do not want to crack the tile above.

Can you slide out a subfloor from underneath?

The only way possible would be if an isolation membrane like Dirta was used, it may be possible to slide out the subfloor from underneath, but it would be such a cumbersome job that the labor costs would probably run up above what all new tile would cost.

What is the demolition stage of a rotted subfloor?

The demolition stage of repairing a rotted section of subfloor is like cancer surgery. Once you get started, you must keep following the path of the water-born destruction until you reach ...

Can wood destroying fungi grow on subfloor?

The wood destroying fungi will continue to grow if not removed, and anything the subfloor system supports will be vulnerable.

Can waterborn destruction damage subfloor framing?

Once you get started, you must keep following the path of the water-born destruction until you reach the full extent of the damage. You don’t always know where the surgery will take you. Sometimes it extends along subfloor framing for some distance. It can also damage the wall framing around it.

How do I remove subflooring from a room?

If you don't know which direction you should place the blocks, run a stud finder on the floor to determine the location of the floor joists. Remove the panels down a line in the center of the room running perpendicular to the direction the joists run. Use a pry bar to pull up the subflooring panels from the edges. Pry a short distance along the edge of the panels at a time, to slowly wedge the panels up. This will help you avoid breaking the panels as you remove them.

Why does my floor squeak?

If the subfloor isn't strong enough, this can cause a constant squeaking in the affected weak section or sagging ...

How do I glue wood to a floor?

Place a ladder beneath the chalk line so that you can reach the joists easily. Place wood glue on both ends of one of the blocks and along the top edge. Climb the ladder, then place the block between two of the floor joists, with the edge of the block aligned with the chalk line running along the center of the floor.

Can you access the subfloor from underneath?

Gain access to the subfloor from underneath for easier placement of the blocking. For first floor levels, this can be from a basement; for the second floor, access can be from beneath an exposed ceiling or a suspended ceiling with the ceiling panels removed. Video of the Day.

how do you replace or repair subfloor under tub without removing tub

replaced tile around tub had small water damage in back cornor thought no problem. went to replace floor in room next to tub found floor water damage. went in crawl space found two holes between joist under tub. whats best way to fix subfloor fixing house up for sale so will have to pass inspection

Comments (6)

Unfortunately I don't think there is any easy way. Any subfloor is going to have to be supported across at least two joists. You might be able to add some cross braces between joists and attach a section of subfloor there. Sounds like you might need the advice of a contractor. Someone who can evaluate your situation with plumbing, loads, etc.

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