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How do you remove a subfloor without damaging joists?
One method is to use a small hole saw and drill around the nails, just the thickness of the floor. Then (after getting the sheet of plywood up) you end up with a bunch of small plywood plugs you can break off the screws/nails fairly easily, and enough nail/screw to get a grip on for removal.
How long does it take to remove subfloor?
Replacing a small portion of the subfloor can be done in a day or two, but replacing an entire floor can take up to 24 hours. The finished floor needs to be removed first in order to replace the subfloor. It will be removed if there is an underlayment.
How hard is it to replace subfloor?
The subfloor usually runs in a continuous sheet under all the walls. It can’t be removed easily. The underlayment, however, was put in after the walls were up, so it fits each room and is tailored to the type of floor covering being used. The underlayment, therefore, is easy to pull up and remove.
Is plywood a subfloor?
The subfloor is always a structural layer of sheet good material—usually plywood or OSB, or occasionally particleboard. Of the two most common subfloor materials, builders often debate which is best: plywood or OSB. OSB (oriented strand board) is a different form of sheet material.
Does subfloor go under walls?
Wall and Floor Basics Subfloor: The subfloor is nailed to the top of the joist. Often 19/32-inch to 1 1/8-inch thick plywood or OSB, the subfloor might run continuously across the joist, or two sections of subfloor may meet on a joist. Bottom Wall Plate: The bottom wall plate is the bottom-most part of the wall.
How do you remove OSB subfloor?
If removing a piece of the OSB subflooring is the only option, use a circular saw to make a cut down the long edge of the T&G between the sheets of subflooring. Make the cut 1/8 inch less than the thickness of the OSB subflooring to prevent cutting the attic floor joist or truss bottom cord.
How do I know if my subfloor is bad?
9 Common Signs of Subfloor Damage Your 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.
What is under a subfloor?
Underlayment: Some types of flooring can be installed directly on top of the subfloor, such as vinyl flooring. Other types need a middle layer, called underlayment, such as laminate,carpet and tile.
What’s the best subfloor material?
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.
Can I replace my subfloor myself?
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.
Can you use subfloor as your floor?
Concrete subflooring is acceptable as regular flooring, as long as it’s in a moisture-proof environment. Consider the long-term effects of leaving your subflooring exposed.
How many layers of plywood do you need for a subfloor?
The first is to lay two layers of 3/8-inch plywood over the slab without fastening or gluing them to the slab. One layer is laid, and the second layer is stapled or glued perpendicularly or diagonally over the top.
Is it better to use OSB or plywood for subfloor?
The National Tile Contractors Association and the Resilient Floor Covering Institute both recommend plywood for subflooring and underlayment, because it doesn’t have the risk of swollen edges that OSB does. Plywood also has a slight advantage in stiffness, which means that subflooring panels need not be quite as thick.
Is plywood better than OSB?
Osb is stronger than plywood in shear. Shear values, through its thickness, are about 2 times greater than plywood. This is one of the reasons osb is used for webs of wooden I-joists.
How do you take up an old subfloor?
Peel back or remove any carpet or floor coverings. If there is floor underlay such as a thin layer of particleboard on top of the subfloor, you will need to pry that up and remove it. Pound the tip of a flat prybar under the particleboard underlay with a hammer and pry it up. If it breaks into pieces, that’s fine.
Do you put subfloor before drywall?
In standard home construction, the contractor installs the subfloor before installing the drywall. In fact, the subfloor is one of the first features of construction, whereas drywall installation takes place toward the end of the project.
Should I do floors or walls first?
Most people think that painting should be done first to prevent any spills from marring brand-new flooring. However, experts agree that new flooring should always be installed before you have any interior painting done.
Can you use wood filler on subfloor?
You can simply use a putty type of wood filler. Or anything to prevent the laminate from dipping. I’ve seen guys use construction adhesive like PL to repair small defects in the subfloor.
How do you replace a kitchen floor without removing cabinets?
If you want to replace your kitchen floor or wall tiles without removing the cabinets, you’ll need a power tool, such as an oscillating or rotary saw, that allows you to make cuts flush to the cabinets’ edge. This feature allows you to place the cutting blade flush against a cabinet edge and cut straight down.
