TYPES OF SUBFLOORS FOR YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING | HARDWOOD FLOORS | CHARLOTTE NC

TYPES OF SUBFLOORS FOR YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING

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SOLID WOOD FLOORING

Solid wood flooring is a great option that provides practical advantages and adds long-term value to your home.

Therefore, the best way to protect such a valuable investment is by installing the most suitable subfloor.

Regardless of your hardwood floor quality, it is important to lay it on a solid subfloor that will ensure the overall performance of the flooring system and prevent squeaking, sagging, and an uneven surface.

CONCRETE SLABS Some flooring manufacturers prefer to choose slabs with a glue application. In these cases, the installer requires a moisture vapor retarder to accomplish the task. Lightweight concrete slabs are generally not the best options, and experts recommend OSB or plywood underlayment panels.

Before placing an underlayment over a concrete slab, it is necessary to perform a moisture test on the concrete as moisture migrates to the surface from the bottom and then evaporates, depending on changes in relative humidity.

BOARD SUBFLOORS

This type of subfloor is composed of pine planks.

This item is installed by nailing these thick boards to the joists. Board subfloors are very common in older structures and will loosen over time due to contraction and expansion of the material. It is important to avoid installing solid hardwood flooring parallel to the direction of the plank subfloor to prevent the floors from separating over time, causing gaps and open ripples.

OSB SUBFLOOR (ORIENTED STRAND BOARD)

The material of this subfloor consists of a substrate of glued wood chips. And you will need to glue and nail the OSB sheets to the floor joists when installing. This product is more flexible than wood boards since the flooring can be installed directly on them.

PLYWOOD SUBFLOOR

Plywood is one of the most widely used exterior subfloor materials in homes. Also, plywood subfloors are made from thin sheets of pine wood, laminated, crossed, and glued together.

This product is easy to assemble as the tongue and groove of the plywood sheets allow each adjoining piece to interlock, creating a secure subfloor.

For further information, call the professionals on hardwood floors in Charlotte, NC.

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