If your subfloor is damaged and needs replacing, expect the project to require a professional assessment and the proper materials.
What Is a Subfloor?
It’s the unsung hero underneath your floor
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The subfloor sits above your floor joists and below the underlayment, providing structural stability and evenly distributing weight across your home's framing.
Expect to pay $620 on average for a 300-square-foot room, or $4.50 to $10.00 per square foot for professional plywood subfloor installation.
Watch for creaking floors, uneven boards, musty odors, or visible water damage, as these signs indicate your subfloor needs repair or replacement.
Hiring a local flooring company provides peace of mind with expert evaluation of your floor joists and precise subfloor installation or replacement work.
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While subfloors are hidden under visible flooring, they are critical to your home’s structural integrity. Failing subfloors can cause many problems, such as creaking floorboards. Our guide explains what a subfloor is, the best material options you have, signs your subfloor may be failing, and what to expect when it comes to repairing or replacing subfloors.
What Is a Subfloor?
A subfloor is the part of floor framing that sits above the joist but beneath the underlayment and the actual flooring. It ensures the structural stability of your floors and evenly distributes pressure onto the joists. In a finished basement, the subfloor will sit directly above the concrete slab with a thin moisture barrier in between.
Floor framing must have a subfloor layer so carpet, wooden floor, or tiles can be attached. Without the subfloor, you won’t have a stable, walkable surface, and your flooring material will sag around the joists.
Materials for Subfloor
Most subfloors are made of wood. There are several types of plywood subfloors used in modern homes:
CDX: The most common option, this material is more affordable since it is rougher and contains more imperfections.
Tongue-and-groove: Made with boards that fit snugly together, it prevents squeaks and provides a more durable structure.
Marine plywood: A premium quality plywood made of hardwood, it’s highly moisture-resistant and is often used in bathrooms.
Structural plywood or plywood sheathing: This is similar to CDX but doesn’t have the water-resistant glue between layers.
In addition to plywood, you may also find Oriented Strand Board (OSB) or chipboard subflooring and concrete subfloors.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Subfloor?
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Subfloors must be installed by a local flooring contractor. For new construction homes, subfloors are often installed alongside underlayment and flooring. For existing home remodeling, you will need to remove the flooring to access the subfloor, then reinstall the flooring.
The cost to install plywood subflooring for a 300-square-foot room is $620 on average, or $4.50 to $10.00 per square foot. The actual pricing will vary depending on the complexity of the project, your preferred subfloor material, and square footage.
Subfloor Repair and Replacement
Some signs that your subfloor might need repair or replacement include creaking floors, uneven floor boards, musty smells, or visible water damage. For bathroom subfloors, look for cracked or popping tiles. Sometimes failing subfloors also cause your toilet to wobble.
It is recommended that you hire a carpenter for subfloor replacement or repair due to the complexity of the project. A carpenter can also evaluate the structural integrity of your floor joists. If you are certain that the joists are in good condition, then a flooring contractor would be sufficient for subfloor and underlayment replacement.
Flooring services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.4★ avg. • 41 total reviews
- Sarah E.
Joseph did a great job with the staircase and trim. Timely and efficient, clear communication about the work, very fair pricing. For the stairs in particular, done very skillfully in an old house (1893) in a tight spiral, and very creative with how to do the handrail. Did a nice job with...
Vouis Trim Carpentry L.L.C. - Jena P.
This company does it right. Firstly, I want to say that Landan was a joy to work with. He was so kind, transparent, and had everything under control. His entire team showed up ready to work and they were all very respectful of the fact that we were in an office space. A little backstory – we...
Krumlauf Floors - Gina M.
Finished Basements Plus was wonderful from beginning to end! First, they came out quickly for an estimate. I had 4 estimates and theirs was by far the best. (2 of the estimates were more than $20K higher than for the exact same work). Beyond their fair pricing, the work was excellent. They...
Finished Basements Plus Inc. - Jeanann S.
Very professional, knowledgeable and helpful! Completed the install on time and as expected.
Ward's Services - Grace G.
Excellent, Prompt, Courteous Service!!! They were super friendly and quite personable. I felt very comfortable with the gentlemen that did the installation. They installed it exactly where I asked them to and they did an excellent job!! I loved their service so much.
Tether House - David E.
Window Depot did an amazing job installing the windows in my basement! The process from start to finish was by far more than what I expected. I would highly recommend Window Depot if you want professionalism from the the consultation to the installation. Dont settle for mediocre when you can...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Tom B.
AFS was excellent from start to finish. Jess, the sales associate, was fantastic...very knowledgeable and very professional. The installation crew was excellent. I couldn't be more pleased with the process. Best of all, my new floor looks fantastic!
America's Floor Source - Bob T.
We were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTile - Jake H.
Did an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLC - Bob T.
We hired Jim to replace our hardwood floors with new hardwood. He and his helper Jerry did a fantastic job. Their work ethic is impeccable!! We would highly recommend McColl Floors!
The homeowners guide to flooring services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Subflooring makes your floors sturdy and level. Learn more about the cost to install plywood subflooring and factors that affect the price.
Sagging floor repair costs vary considerably depending on the type and extent of the damage and the flooring material.
If you’re dealing with warped or creaky floors, it could be a subfloor issue. This guide will show you how to replace a subfloor totally DIY.
Confused about what type of plywood is best for subflooring? This guide tells you all you need to know, based on the unique requirements and scope of your project.
Don’t let squeaky floors wake the house up when you go for a midnight snack. Try these 6 methods to learn how to prevent squeaky floors instead.