Using Subfloor As Finished Floor

A humped threshold from the hall to the bathroom for example.

Using subfloor as finished floor.

A subfloor is a wooden structural substrate to which durable finished flooring is attached. An underlayment is a thin layer of material sandwiched between two other materials. In many older houses the pine subfloor was the only floor and it held up well. Yes you can use pine subfloors as primary flooring.

Its purpose is to provide a smooth flat surface for the floor covering. Over the subfloor there is an underlayment that smooths out the subfloor and provides a flat level surface for the finished flooring surface. This is the finished visible flooring surface such as hardwood planks carpeting ceramic tile or vinyl. Just under the visible floor covering is a layer of some kind of material usually only about 1 4 or 1 2 inch thick.

Plywood is usually used as subfloor today. Uncovered pine subflooring appeals to recycling enthusiasts as well as fans of distressed wood. Different plywoods use various materials and methods of manufacture depending on the application for which they re intended. I will not use any flooring that floats simply because you need to make clumsy transitions from it to another type of floor.

Unlike the subfloor this is not a structural element and it provides no strength to the floor. Use an underlayment floor leveler or floor patch product to fix low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. As important as economy is even more important to me is the way the product is installed. Not bad for any finished wood floor.

This is the layer that you see and walk on. The subfloor is the foundation beneath finish flooring materials. During home construction a builder installs subflooring to provide a solid level foundation for finished flooring such as tile wood vinyl or linoleum. On wood frame floors the subflooring provides a continuous structural surface over the floor joists.

Drawbacks include a thinner less insulated floor and a less durable surface than other flooring types. It s used to help insulate absorb sound and reduce wear on your floor.