​The Importance of Subfloor Prep

Regardless which type of resilient flooring is being installed, every floor will require some kind of subfloor prep. Every installation is unique and will have its own subfloor prep requirements. Careful and correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a satisfactory resilient floor covering installation. Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor will telegraph through the new floor covering, resulting in an unsightly surface and excessive wear on high spots. Proper subfloor preparation and suitable underlayment installation are essential for a trouble-free job. 
Before proceeding with any installation, there are a few questions to factor in before proceeding:

What type of flooring is to be installed? Commercial floors generally have a smooth face and will show any subfloor defects For most Resilient flooring, subfloor flatness is 10mm in 3metres. New Construction or Remodel? If it is remodel, what flooring was previously installed and how was it removed? What condition is the subfloor in? Five words to remember in subfloor prep: Clean Smooth Structurally Sound Level Dry Has the subfloor been tested for Moisture and pH? All concrete subfloors on any level should be tested for moisture and pH and documented Hardwood installations over wood subfloors should be checked for moisture and documented Have sealers or curing compounds been used? What is the subfloor and what is it over? Concrete, Gypsum, or Wood Crawl Space?  All of these and other conditions can vary from job to job. Each set of unique conditions has a very specific series of steps required to prepare the substrate prior to installing the prep materials and then, the finish flooring. 
The finished floor is only as good as the base or the subfloor is. The make-up of the subfloor and the condition and quality of the subfloor, directly affect the performance of the finished resilient flooring. If the system components are not as recommended or as required, the flooring can fail. 
If the condition of the subfloor is poor, not properly cleaned, not dry enough, and not flat enough, the flooring performance will suffer and require a call back and some type repair, maybe even reinstallation.

Problems related to improper subfloor preparation continue to multiply each year, with millions of dollars in damage as a result. Sadly, most of these problems are preventable when correct installation methods are followed. 
Before starting any installation, it is critical to make sure that the subflooring is ready to have flooring installed over it. There are now countless specialized products to help installers ensure that subfloors are clean, flat and dry enough to install flooring over. In order to use them effectively, you need to take the time to learn about the latest products and installation methods. 
Not prepping a floor correctly is only going to lead to bigger issues that will come back to you. A customer that does not want to pay for prep is only setting themselves up for a disappointing flooring failure.
During quotation period the estimator cannot ascertain exactly what substrate exists under the existing covering, as in New Zealand it is illegal to uplift any areas of existing flooring until contracts have been settled. At this point it is always just a best guess.
Put simply, preparation in any job is the key to any successful project, and to ensure best value for the products being used.
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Disclamier: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing.

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