Subfloor preparation is probably the most important aspect of any flooring project.
Subfloor preparation is probably the most important aspect of any flooring project. Your subfloor, usually concrete or plywood on joists is the layer of building material directly below your flooring. The condition of the sub-floor will ultimately decide how the finished floor will look, how it’s going to feel under your feet when you walk across it, and how long the floor will last.
Many common flooring problems like clicking when you walk across it, high spots, low spots, soft spots and tightness can all point to issues with the subfloor. Many of these issues can be avoided with a more careful and detailed installation.
This is a major issue in the building industry because most builders don’t want to spend the extra time required in preparing the subfloor properly, thus they pass the responsibility to the flooring contractor who usually doesn’t allow for very much subfloor preparation in their bid, if any at all.
This is also a problem on older homes, especially with crawlspaces as the joists and plywood flooring can be warped, which again is translated into the final flooring.
If you’re looking for the highest quality flooring job there is no question you’re going to need subfloor preparation.
J & J Wood Floors are specialist flooring contractors. We understand what a subfloor is, and we understand how important the subfloor is to the final finished floor that we present to you.
Over the years we’ve delivered problem solving solutions and expertise to our customers for their most challenging subfloor issues. Our experienced team can implement solutions to repair or rebuild your subfloor and bring it up to manufacturers standards so that your finished floor looks as elegant and flat as you’d envisioned it to be.
J & J Wood Floors is the flooring company that’s prepared to go the extra mile to make sure the job is done right. We specialize in flooring projects that have complicated subfloors or that other flooring contractors couldn't complete properly.
Concrete Subfloor Preparation
Prior to any work being completed the subfloor must first be entirely cleaned of all building materials, this includes left over drywall spatter and paint. Then with the proper tools and measuring instruments we can check the flatness of your floor to determine what exactly we’ll have to do to fix it.
Most concrete subfloors should not exceed 3/16″ of inch height difference over a 10 foot span to stay within most flooring manufacturers installation guidelines. We can usually prepare a concrete subfloor by sanding down the highspots (we use a dustless system) and using a concrete filler or self leveling compound for the low spots. In some extremely rare cases, we’ve even had to redo entire concrete slabs but this would very uncommon.
Wood Subfloor Preparation
Wood subfloors offer a different set of problems than a concrete subfloor. Wood can be highly affected by it’s environment, namely excessive heat or moisture which will warp the wood. This causes the creaking and cracking commonly heard as you walk across a floor laid on a wood subfloor. Sometimes repairing a wood subfloor could be as simple as replacing a few sheets of plywood and doing a general cleanup, all the way up to replacing problem floor joists made with poor quality or warped lumber. Because there are so many issues associated with a poorly done wood subfloor it’s best to have the pros like J & J Wood Floors come out and take a look at your project.
If you are having subfloor problems or just want to make sure you're going to have the best hardwood flooring installation around then you need to give J & J Wood Floors a call (530) 320-2823 or fill out our contact form today.
Why Choose J & J Wood Floors For Your Flooring Services?
We know you have dozens of choices when it comes to hiring a flooring company. Here's what makes us different.
#1. We're a family owned and operated local company. We care about our community, we are passionate about wood flooring, and we care about our reputation for excellent workmanship, customer service, and reliability.
#2. We have a 5.0 star rating on Google showing that we consistently exceed our clients expectations.
#3. We are your local wood flooring experts. Whether you're looking for refinishing, restoration, or a new installation, you can count on the J & J Wood Floors team to provide you with excellent advice, and complete our projects to the highest of standards. You simply cannot beat our expertise!
#4. Our pricing is competitive and we always go the extra mile. Our pricing is very competitive and we always go the extra mile to ensure you are 110% happy with the flooring work we've completed for you. Our 20+ years in business is a testament to our commitment that we make to our clients.
If you are having subfloor problems or just want to make sure you're going to have the best hardwood flooring installation around then you need to give J & J Wood Floors a call (530) 320-2823 or fill out our contact form today.
Do You Have Questions About Sub-Floors?
A subfloor is the structural layer that provides support to your finished flooring. It’s typically made of plywood or concrete. A properly prepared subfloor is crucial as it ensures stability, prevents moisture damage, and helps the finished flooring last longer.
Your subfloor should be dry, level, clean, and structurally sound. For concrete subfloors, check for cracks and moisture levels. For wooden subfloors, ensure there are no loose or damaged areas. A professional inspection can help determine suitability.
Use a long spirit level or a straightedge to check various sections of the floor. The subfloor should not have dips or rises more than 1/8 inch over 6 feet for hardwood and 1/16 inch over 3 feet for laminate. Self-leveling compounds can help correct minor unevenness.
Yes, underlayment provides additional stability, soundproofing, and moisture protection. For hardwood, a rosin paper or foam underlayment is typically used. For laminate, a foam or combination underlayment with moisture barrier properties is recommended.
- Squeaking or bouncing when walked on
- Visible damage like cracks or rot
- Uneven or sloping areas
- Persistent moisture or dampness
While some minor preparation can be DIY-friendly, significant issues like moisture problems, major leveling, or extensive repairs are best handled by professionals. They ensure the subfloor is perfectly prepared for a successful installation of your new flooring.
If you need the best wood flooring contractor in the area, you've just found us!
Get Your Quote For
Wood Flooring Services
Request Service
OUR SERVICES
TESTIMONIALS
Highly recommended! After we made initial contact, Joe came out quickly to visit our home. We received a competitive estimate from him the next day and decided to hire him for the job. We handled the demolition of the existing carpet and tile flooring where necessary. The installation went smoothly--they were able to seamlessly lace in the new red oak with our existing red oak flooring. Joe & Scott were responsive to questions and feedback and got us exactly what we were looking for. If we do more wood flooring or need our floors refinished, we'll be calling them first!
Absolutely beautiful job renewing our hard wood floors! We were delighted to find they were white oak and Joe and his son were so amazing. Hard workers, polite and friendly…so thankful to have found them. They were fast and detailed. Don’t hesitate if you are looking. They are your guys.
J & J wood floors completed our entire first floor with beautiful wood floors. They were extremely kind, courteous, and punctual. The floors turned out even better than what we had imagined. I highly recommend them. Thank you J& J wood floors.
Great workmanship. Friendly and collaborative throughout the whole process. Flexible in working with you (we had to extend the floor in the kitchen and fit that into the schedule. Thorough. Set all the face nails. Sealed all spaces and nails. Got completely under all cupboards, fridge, and piano. And put 3 full Coates on the floors. A great experience with wonderful results. All this with no dust during the whole process! Finished ahead of schedule.
J&J Wood Floors refinished our hardwood floors. They are knowledgeable and professional. They have all the professional equipment and do the job right. We are pleased with how the floors turned out.
J & J did a great job with matching and tying in new wood with our classic old hardwood floors. Fair and easy to work with. Would definitely use again. Thanks
We have used J and J twice to do engineered hardwood flooring. They did our entire downstairs in 2015 and most recently in 2022 the upstairs. Both times went quickly and efficiently and the product looks great
Joe and his crew did a fantastic job installing some additional wood flooring and refinishing our old floors. Everything matched perfectly and they were neat and clean during the whole process. We have some more flooring to do and plan to have Joe do that work too. We would have no reservations recommending J&J flooring to anyone needing flooring work.
On time , kept the worksite tidy and very clean when they were done. Easy to work with and good communicator with questions I had a long the way. The floors look great!
Excellent work. Done quick with great prices. Would recommend to all
Hands down amazing work glad I went with them to do my wood floors I highly recommend
Super happy I chose this company to redo my floors. 10/10 would recommend anyone to use them . Professional in all aspects thanks again guys !
My wood floors are stunning! Joe and Scott did an amazing job of restoring my floors. They are professional and detail oriented! The process they use is very clean and I was happily surprised at how quick and efficient it was. I would highly recommend them, their customer service is top notch.
We had water damage to our oak flooring in the kitchen due to a poorly installed dish washer (another story). Joe and Scott refinished our flooring (approximately 500 square feet) and did an outstanding job. They arrived when they said would, were efficient and professional in every respect, and caused minimal disruption. When I handed Joe the check I said that "it was worth every penny". It was. Most importantly, however, is that my wife now says that she "can't help but smile every time she looks at the "new" flooring. Thanks Joe!
Amazing work restoring our old hard wood floors and installing new wood floors to replace carpet. Wonderful craftsmanship and reliable service. Highly recommended!! We’re very pleased with the results.
We hired J & J to refinish some existing oak floors and install new flooring to match, including a flight of stairs, at our condo in North Tahoe. Joe worked with us remotely (since this isn't our full time residence). We met Joe at the condo and reviewed the job parameters during the estimate phase; the bid was very competitive. Then we were able to do everything remotely via emails and phone calls. The finished product is beautiful and transformed our space. We really appreciate that we didn't have to run back-and-forth from the valley to the mountains to supervise Joe. He kept us updated with progress reports which helped immensely. We have high praise for Joe's craftsmanship and and business sense. His work is first rate and his professionalism spot on. We highly recommend J & J.
Great work, timely, friendly and great prices.
I cannot say enough about these guys my floors turned out amazing. Everyday I walk through the house and it puts a smile on my face thanks,./
J & J Wood Floors did an outstanding job on our wood floors! We have an existing wood floor that we needed to match and they did a great job finding the right product for our needs. Their service and attention to detail was on target. Joe and his son are experts at what they do. I highly recommend this company for all your flooring needs!
We priced out Aquarius Medallion flooring around Bay Area and found J&J to be the best deal even with our project 100 plus miles away from Auburn. We did a large 5000 sf ft home in the Whiskey Aquarius. Jeff and His son are top notch installers and first class people. On time and finished on schedule. I personally recommend them for any flooring project. Feel free to contact me for a referral. Our house turned out perfect and only have praise for J&J. I also think the Aquarius product is a steal and looks better than the much higher priced competition.