How To Flatten A Wood Sub Floor

The national wood flooring association guidelines call for bringing that subfloor to within 3 16 inch of dead flat over any 10 foot span or alternatively within 1 8 inch over six feet says daniel boone nwfa director of technical training.

How to flatten a wood sub floor.

It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before installation. I have a plywood subfloor with a few high low spots. High areas such as peaked joints in the subfloor or other ridges in the wood subfloor can be power sanded or planed. These specs apply to wood or concrete subfloors boone says.

As humidity or moisture from rain water falls onto the wood the lumber absorbs the liquid causing it to expand and bend. Installation of a wood floor over the subfloor insinuates acceptance by the flooring installer. Low areas that are less than 1 4 inch deep can often be filled with building paper. I ve read that laminate flooring can only be installed over flat subfloors.

Using warped planks in framing a home or in a sub floor may result in problems as floors and walls begin to buckle.