How do I know if my subfloor needs to be replaced?

9 Common Signs of Subfloor Damage

1. Your floors are uneven or sunken in parts.
2. Your floorboards squeak – loudly.
3. The room smells musty.
4. Your floors shift or bounce when you walk on them.
5. Your toilet is rocking or loose.
6. Your tile flooring has cracked.
7. Your hardwood floor is cupping.
8. Your linoleum floor is bubbling up.

How do you level floors in an old house?

There are multiple ways to fix a floor that sags and dips.

1. Pour Self-Leveling Underlayment. Pour self-leveling underlayment in the problem area.
2. Sister the Joists.
3. Prop Up the Joists.
4. Lay Down New Hardwood.

Should I rip up hardwood floors?

In almost every case it is preferable to refinish rather than replace hardwood floors. Part of the appeal of hardwood is that it lasts so long. A quality hardwood floor can be sanded down and refinished at least six times, and up to ten times before you need to replace it.

Why do old floors squeak?

Creaky floors occur when the subfloor has been separated from floor joists. You can solve this by shimming the subfloor. Wedge shims between the joist and subfloor, and use a clawhammer to tap them into place. Don’t pound the shims because they could lift the floorboards and cause more squeaking.

How much does it cost to replace subfloor?

Average Cost of Replacing Subfloor. Replacing subfloors will cost between $1.45 and $7 per square foot for materials. Labor costs will be around $27.50 per hour. The project requires the removal of the finished flooring and damaged area and the installation of a new material.

Can you fix old house uneven floors?

If you have an uneven floor, you may need to think about leveling floor joists with shims. This job can run you $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the extent of the job. Leveling the floor with shims is when you attach thin, wedge-shaped pieces of wood on top of the low areas of the joists to make the top joists even.

How much does it cost to rip up hardwood floors?

The cost to remove a hardwood floor is about $353 with average prices ranging from $195 to $865 in the US for 2020, according to RemodelingExpense. The average cost per sq ft for hardwood flooring removal is about $3.52 per sq ft with average prices ranging from $1.95 per sq ft to $4.33 per sq ft.

What to do with old wooden floors?

Donate: If your floor is healthy enough for a second life as a floor, consider donating it to an organization like Habitat for Humanity. They often have professional volunteers who can help them turn your old floor into a beautiful new one for a family that will be grateful to have it.