How do I find joists under subfloor?

Tap the floor with a hammer and listen for a “thud” sound. Begin at a corner and tap the subfloor. A hollow sound will indicate space, but a “thud” sound will indicate the presence of a floor joist. Once you locate the first two joists, measure the distance between them to determine how wide they are separated.

Does subfloor go under framing?

Joist: A joist is a long, horizontal piece of wood, usually 2 feet by 8 feet or 2 feet by 10 feet, that holds up the flooring. Subfloor: The subfloor is nailed to the top of the joist. All items except for the underlayment and floor covering rest under and are nailed to the bottom wall plate.

What goes first framing or flooring?

2 Answers. Framing is typically build on top of the subfloor. The finish flooring runs to within about 1/2″ of the framing, then the gap is covered by baseboard.

Is the subfloor structural?

Typically made of plywood or OSB and ranging in thickness from 19/32″ to 1 1/8″ thick, the subfloor is truly structural, second only to joists in this respect. Subfloor holds up all of the above layers of flooring, as well as everything in your house—people, dogs, cats, pianos, furniture. All houses have subfloors.

What kind of flooring can be installed over a subfloor?

Laminate Flooring – Thinner laminate type flooring can be installed over OSB subfloor (over the recommended foam pad). The flooring must be installed crossing the floor joists (at a 90 degree angle). If the laminate flooring is installed parallel to the direction of the floor joists the Laminate flooring could develop distortion later.

What happens if you install hardwood floor parallel to subfloor?

If the hardwood flooring is installed parallel to the direction of the plank subfloor the new wood floors could pull apart leaving open gaps or develop waviness later if the underlayment planks expand/contract or the edges cup upwards.

How is the thickness of plywood for a subfloor determined?

The subfloor is the decking installed on top of flooring joists; the finished floor is then installed on top of the subfloor. The thickness of plywood panels in a subfloor is regulated by the spacing of the joists. This number is known as a span rating.

What should the PSI be for a subfloor under wood floor?

The slab must be a minimum of 3,000 psi; lightweight concrete is not acceptable unless you are installing a floating floor or a wood subfloor over the slab. A quick test is to drag a nail or other sharp object across the slab—if it leaves an impression, there’s a good chance it’s lightweight concrete.

Can a finished floor be installed over a subfloor?

Finished flooring materials can be installed directly over the subfloor or over an underlayment added to the subfloor. Underlayment can provide a smooth surface for flooring, among other properties. Unlike subflooring, underlayment is not a structural material, and it is not required with many types of flooring.

Which is better a subfloor panel or a sleeper floor?

Subfloor panels offer much easier installation than the traditional technique of nailing down 2×4 sleepers over the concrete and covering them with plywood. Panel systems are also thinner than a sleeper floor so they add less height to the floor assembly—an important benefit in height-challenged basement rooms.

What kind of flooring is used for a subfloor?

Or the subfloor may be made of plywood or other panel products that are laid perpendicular to the joists. A plywood subfloor has panels that are laid in a staggered fashion, with the ends and edges butted together; the panels are nailed (and sometimes also glued with construction adhesive) to the floor joists.