levelling the floor, remove subfloor?


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Old 09-11-18, 07:20 AM
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levelling the floor, remove subfloor?

I need to level some floors in an entire apartment.
I am going to remove the existing floor but do I leave the subfloor in place?
The method I've seen you put leveling strips on top of the subfloor, then plywood over that then wood flooring panels over that.
I'm wondering if there's a way to do it by removing the subfloor instead and gaining an extra 1/2 inch or so?
 
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Old 09-11-18, 07:23 AM
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Or is it easier to take up the subfloor and then sister the joists?
 
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Old 09-11-18, 08:27 AM
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Depends what you plan to go over it with. You can shim on top of the subfloor if you plan to add additional 3/4 subfloor. (Anything else is too thin and would flex) But that adds a lot of thickness so you are probably better off in the long run if you just remove all the subfloor and shim the joists as needed... Then go back with 3/4 subfloor on that.
 
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Old 09-11-18, 12:19 PM
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If I remove the subfloor in each room and put down new 3/4 plywood, then flooring, is there anything to consider near the walls and doorways? ie is it common to run into problems with the new height differences at these locations. Door jams I guess can be cut...
 
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Old 09-11-18, 12:42 PM
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You will need blocking under any interior walls that are parallel to the floor joists. You will want a toe kick saw to cut the subfloor up flush will the walls. And yes you might need to undercut door jambs if your floor level comes up.

Doors can be cut any amount you need. Hollow core doors may need to be plugged.
 
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Old 09-11-18, 04:04 PM
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I need to level some floors in an entire apartment.
Before tearing up the floor why do you need to level the floors?

And explain your definition of "apartment"! Anybody below?
 
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Old 09-12-18, 07:01 AM
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We own the building so it's a 3rd floor apartment in a triplex.
There was some foundation movement over 100 years or so, the foundation is being stabilized and after we will level the floors. They are currently angled inwards to the middle support of the house and also are curved probably due to load at one point. That is all being sorted though. There is a 2" difference or more from the side wall to the middle of the house

You will need blocking under any interior walls that are parallel to the floor joists.
The blocking is to support the plywood just at that point on the edge?
Also, does it need to be 3/4 plywood or can I use OSB?
 
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Old 09-12-18, 02:26 PM
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Like I said, walls that are parallel to the joists may need blocking underneath them. If the wall is sitting on only subfloor, it will just be hanging there once you remove the subfloor from both sides of the wall. Plus you need a nailer for plywood.

If you plan on installing cement board and tile or a nail down wood floor, plywood will be better than osb. And it should be 3/4" tongue and groove.
 
 

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