OLD WOODWoodenit

Sub Floors for Wood Flooring and the Issues surrounding them

Subfloors and the issues surrounding them

A subfloor is what is underneath your present floor covering. Subfloors can become a nightmare if you do not follow the correct procedures because whatever goes on top of the subfloor will be affected by it.

Damp, damaged membranes etc can allow moisture to rise upwards, moisture will always go to the driest part. Our fitters will check the floor for moisture and the surrounding area for humidity to ensure that there will be no problems once the wood floor is laid. The moisture content of the floor screed should be checked along with the relative humidity.

If the following procedures are followed then you will be providing the right environment for a beautiful natural floor that should last a lifetime and you will not get “cupping” or warping problems which only occur where there is excessive moisture. Cupping is where the edges of the boards curl up.

Types of Subfloor 

There are 5 basic types of sub floors upon which we fix hard wood flooring

• Concrete screeds, power floated floors
• Joists
• Ground floor joists with open air below which are found in old houses that have air bricks and probably earth underneath
• Old floor boards
• Chipboard or plywood structure
• Underfloor Heating Screed

Concrete: Concrete screeded floors can vary in condition and levels. If it is flat and smooth with a moisture content of 4% or less then we can glue the boards directly to the floor using the Bona R 850 this is always the best way rather than using an underlay and floating the boards.

If your subfloor is not flat and smooth you can use self leveling compounds but be aware that they can lift if you do not have the right one and it is not applied correctly.

If you have your own builder or fitter please make sure they are experienced in fitting floors and the consequences of not following the correct procedures for concrete screeds.

To be extra cautious you should always put a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) like the Bona R580 on any concrete screed, concrete takes 10 years to completely dry out and if the membrane underneath cracks for any reason such as subsidence which can happen in long dry spells of weather then moisture can work through the screed and affect the floor. Also by using a DPM you will be protecting the floor even if the screed has not fully dried out on the bottom.  

Joists: If you are fixing floor boards directly to joist you can either use secret nails or screws. These are applied using a purpose made nailing gun or screw fixer which is set at a predetermined angle so that the groove of the next board can be fitted up without the screw or nail showing.  

The joists must be in good condition and free of any wood worm, damp decay, dry rot or any other fungal type disease that can affect their integrity.  

Older homes in the Victorian and Edwardian era had joists over open ground with air bricks if the circulation is blocked then it can lead to serious damp problems. If you have enough height then a plywood base using 8’ x 4’ marine plywood can be screwed to the joists and the floor boards glued directly to the plywood. This will cut out drafts and prevent the damp air affecting the boards. If you do not have the height due to the levels in the house then you must always use an engineered board and ensure that all the ventilation openings and air bricks are clear

Old Floor Boards: Generally old floor boards will be pine or cheap softwood.  If these boards are sound, free of dry rot and fungus, then a new engineered hardwood floor can either be secret nailed, screwed or glued directly on to these boards.

If the boards are loose then it would be best to screw them firmly into the joist. If necessary an acoustic and thermal underlay can be placed between the two layers of wood when nailing or screwing down, this will reduce noise levels including creaking and helps to reduce the transmission of cold air from below.

 If you are unsure then our fitters would be happy to make a site visit to ascertain the best way of fixing your floor

Chipboard or Plywood Floors: Chipboard and ply wood sub bases are the ideal surfaces to fit a hardwood floor. You will be able to choose any of our wooden floors and on plywood they can be nailed, screwed or glued, but on chipboard due to it being particles of waste wood, glue nails and screws would not hold properly over time so it is always best to glue the floor boards down.

Underfloor Heating: This is a specialist area and should be treated with care. There are many different systems but for wooden floors we always think that a hot water system is the best. Electric mats are OK but not as effective. Whatever system you have the manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed. If it is a screeded system then always glue the boards direct to the screed this ensure not heat loss You can find out more in our underfloor heating section.    

 

 

About the Author

This articles was written by Martyn Ryder Managing Director of The Solid Wood Flooring company. We manufacture all our own flooring to our own design and also to specifications given by top Architects and Designers. We supply top quality wood flooring at very competitive prices.

Housekeeping Tips : Removing Wax From Wood Floors

TALL Antique Victorian Wood Pedestal Floor Lamp unusal top OLD! $99.99

Old Vintage Iron and Wood “Old English Floor Wax” Polish Polishing Brush $14.99

Old RARE !!!! Vintage VIBRATONE 15″ Wood Floor Tom Drum & Cover 8 Lugs No Res #1 $125.00

1942 OLD WWII MAGAZINE PRINT AD, KREOLITE WOOD WAR FACTORY FLOORS, TANK ART! $12.99

Old Trade Card Henry Brockman Hard Wood Floors York PA $6.25

Wood Bros. Old Charm Leaded Glass Floor Standing Corner Display Cabinet x $624.89

Reclaimed engineered wood flooring, old oak fenceboards $11.75

Antique Barley Twist FLOOR~Dark Oak~ Rare LAMP Table~Old Quality $369.00

Antique Wood & Cast Iron Milk Stool Floor Mount .. From An Old Pennsylvania Barn $49.95

ANTIQUE OLD VINTAGE VICTORIAN CARVED WOOD BRASS CURVED BENT ARM FLOOR LIGHT LAMP $249.99

OLD wood plane tool STANLEY 74 FLOOR PLANE rule lever markings $12.50

OLD WOOD FLOOR LAMP WITH CASED GLASS LAMP SHADE. $299.00

Eastern White Pine Pre Sanded Stained Flooring Old T&G $4.49

ANTIQUE OLD VINTAGE VICTORIAN CARVED WOOD BRASS DOUBLE SOCKET FLOOR LIGHT LAMP $249.99

1941 OLD MAGAZINE PRINT AD, KREOLITE WOOD FACTORY FLOORS, WWII BLACKOUT ART! $12.99

5-150,PLUS,YEAR,OLD,OAK,BARN,WOOD,LUMBER,FLOORING,RECLAIMED,BOARDS,WEATHERED,#E $18.00

1-150,PLUS,YEAR,OLD,OAK,BARN,WOOD,LUMBER,FLOORING,RECLAIMED,BOARD,WEATHERED,#G $30.00

1907 Ad Old English Floor Wax Container Wood A.S. Boyle – ORIGINAL ADVERTISING $43.95

Large Old World Quaker Floor Candleholder $67.79

Medium Old World Quaker Floor Candleholder $64.79

Small Old World Quaker Floor Candleholder $59.79

~*SHABBY FABULOUS RED FLOOR MIRROR~CHIC OLD TEXTURES~WOOD FRAME~CARVED BEADING $399.00

DuChateau 7 7/16” Smooth Smoked Olde Dutch White Oak Hardwood Flooring $0.99

DuChateau 7 7/16” Hand Scraped Smoked Olde Dutch White Oak Hardwood Flooring $0.99

DuChateau 7 7/16” Smooth Smoked Vernal Olde Dutch White Oak Hardwood Flooring $0.99

7 7/16” Smooth Smoked Olde Dutch White Oak Hardwood Flooring Wood Floor $7.79

Yellow Pine Southern Old Growth T&G Unfinished Flooring $2.99

Reclaimed Oak Hardwood Flooring Wide Plank Old Wood $10.00

ANTIQUE OLD CAST IRON STOVE TOP HEAT VENT FLOOR WALL GRATE WOOD COAL REGISTER $99.99

Carolina Hickory Hardwood Flooring Durable Old Growth Wood Plank 3/4″ T&G Milled $5.99

WidePlank Yellow Pine Premium Old Growth Flooring 8-12 $3.99

Old Wooden Floor Grate For Cold Air Return $78.77

Red Oak Flooring Solid Hardwood Old Growth Oak Wood $5.99

WAX POLISH ENCERITE Antique Old Floor Wood Tile Ceramic $5.52

WAX POLISH ENCERITE Antique Old Floor Wood Tile Ceramic $5.52

Coaster Coat Rack with Twisted Post in Cherry $16.00 Your organized home starts at the door and this collection of coat racks offers you your choice of stylish storage solutions. Give guests a warm welcome when you place a coat rack in your hall or entryway, or make the most of a compact space by tucking one into a corner of your living room. Features like spinning tops, double and triple tiered hooks and umbrella stand bases enhance the functionali…

VWPics Nano Calvo Photography Dog – 1 months old puppy resting on floor – Tile Napkin Holders 1 months old puppy resting on floor Tile Napkin Holder is measuring 6w x 6h x 4d. Made from high quality solid maple wood with satin finish and two 4.25 commercial grade mirror gloss ceramic tiles. Holds napkins, mail, letters or files. In addition, customized engraving, on the face of the item, is available on request….

Carnival Ride $4.57 Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts, hastily made and released some five months after she won the 2005 American Idol crown, was surprisingly solid and tuneful. For her follow-up, producer Mark Bright steers her toward the big Martina McBride skies, with a plethora of strings and huge emotional crescendos. Underwood co-wrote four songs, mostly with the tried-and-true tunesmiths who made Some Hearts soar…

Shoulder Dolly LD1000 2-Person Lifting and Moving System $39.95 Shoulder Dolly Light Duty gives you a hand in moving the heavy stuff–and reduces back, arm, and hand strain. You’re looking at a 2-person harness, webbing and buckle system designed by a professional mover to ease the burden of lifting heavy and bulky objects. Shoulder Dolly lets 2 movers lift in an upright position instead of bending over, so they use shoulder and leg muscles instead of their ba…

O’Berry 3233 Squeak No More Kit $15.85 The Squeeeeek No More kit contains a plastic molded alignment and depth control fixture, 50 specially scored 3-inch x 1/8-inch diameter screws, a customized driver bit to regulate the depth at which to drive the screw, and two joist-finding screws to help find the joist from above….

Floors $18.66 No Synopsis Available

Rustoleum Classic Clear Diamond Wood Finish For Floors SemiGloss 130131 $110.85 The oilbased choice for hardwood flooring. Superior durability. Easy application. Excellent flow self leveling. Resists scuffs marring household chemicals. Excellent durability and adhesion. Semi gloss finish. Gallon. Length: 7. Width: 8. Height: 7

Rustoleum Classic Clear Diamond Wood Finish For Floors Satin 130231 $110.85 The oilbased choice for hardwood flooring. Superior durability. Easy application. Excellent flow self leveling. Resists scuffs marring household chemicals. Excellent durability and adhesion. Satin finish. Gallon. Length: 7. Width: 8. Height: 7

Rustoleum Classic Clear Diamond Wood Finish For Floors Gloss 230031 $139.8 Superior durability and abrasion resistance. Resists stains and household chemicals. Flows easily a cinch to apply. Better adhesion than other floor formulas. Dries transparent non yellowing. Excellent scuff and mar resistance. Gloss finish. Water clean up. Gallon. Length: 7. Width: 8. Height: 7

Rustoleum Classic Clear Diamond Wood Finish For Floors SemiGloss 230131 $139.8 Superior durability and abrasion resistance. Resists stains and household chemicals. Flows easily a cinch to apply. Better adhesion than other floor formulas. Dries transparent non yellowing. Excellent scuff and mar resistance. Water clean up. Semi gloss. Gallon. Length: 7. Width: 8. Height: 7

OFM HFCASTER Casters for Hard Floors NonMarring Set of 5 $41.47 Hard floor casters replace regular casters on the 5star base chairs (except 700 and 800L) and they help prevent scuff marks on hard floors. Designed and built for commercial use. Finish: Black. Color Class: White. Material: Wood. Style: Contemporary.

Wood Sign apos;Old Redware Collectorapos; $20.1 Wood Sign Old Redware Collector. Dimensions: 3 x 15.5 x .75 . Satisfaction Ensured. Outstanding craftsmanship. Classic design.

DeflectO CM21232 EconoMat No Bevel Chair Mat for Hard Floors 45w x 53h Clear $90.58 Perfect for uncarpeted floors. No studs to damage hard wood tile or vinyl. Straight edge/Beveled edge. Color: Clear. Floor Type: Hard Floor. 45 x 53 Mat. 25 x 12 Lip.

Spirit of the Old West Wood Sign 12PACK $32.7 Spirit of the Old West Wood Sign 12 pack. Dimensions: 3 H x 18 W x .25 D. 2 Hangers on back for hanging. The highest Quality Available. Design is stylish and innovative. Satisfaction Ensured. Great Gift Idea.

IWDSC 0199915562 Spirit of the Old West Wood Sign $17.91 Spirit of the Old West Wood Sign. Dimensions: 3 H x 18 W x .25 D. 2 Hangers on back for hanging. The highest Quality Available. Design is stylish and innovative. Satisfaction Ensured. Great Gift Idea.

Old Turtle By Wood, Douglas/ Chee, ChengKhee (ILT) $25.49 All the creatures of the earth debate which qualities God possesses, but Old Turtle quiets them all when he says that God is all those things and more, in a deeply satisfying fable about ecology, peace, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Reissue. Author: Wood, Douglas/ Chee, ChengKhee (ILT) Publication Date: 2001/04/01 Binding Type: School And Library Grade Level: 12 Language: English Depth: 0.50 Width: 9.50 Height: 10.50