Hardwood flooring
Floor Removal and Subfloor Preparation
The work under the floor that decides how long the new one lasts.
Most problems with a new wood floor start underneath it: a slab that is not flat, a subfloor that is damp, or old adhesive left behind. Preparing the subfloor is the part of the job you do not see once the floor is down, and the part we spend the most care on.
The photos on this page run in order, from tearing out the old floor to a subfloor ready for new wood.
Taking out the old floor
Old carpet, tile, vinyl or wood is removed and hauled away. Glued-down floors leave adhesive behind, which is scraped or ground off so the new floor bonds to a clean surface.
Once the old floor is up, we can see the subfloor itself. If we find damaged plywood, rot or a structural problem, we stop, show you, and price the repair before work continues.
Getting the subfloor ready
What happens next depends on what is underneath.
- Concrete slabs: ground or scraped clean, cracks patched, low spots filled with leveling compound
- Wood subfloors: loose panels screwed down, damaged sections replaced, high spots sanded
- Moisture checks on both slab and wood before any flooring arrives
- Moisture barrier or underlayment where the product or slab calls for it
Why flatness and moisture matter
A wood floor laid over a dip or hump will flex, squeak or open at the seams, and a damp slab can make boards cup or lift. Checking flatness with a straightedge and measuring moisture in the slab or plywood before the flooring arrives catches these problems while they are still simple to fix.
We record the readings and keep them with the job, so the decision to proceed is based on numbers taken on site.
Licensed and bonded — CSLB #625535
How we run the job
- 01Protect the rooms around the work area.
- 02Remove and haul away the old floor.
- 03Scrape or grind off old adhesive.
- 04Repair, patch and level the subfloor.
- 05Check moisture and flatness before the new floor goes in.
Our work
Floor Removal & Subfloor Prep: job photos
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- What if you find damage under the old floor?
- We stop, show you what we found, and give you a written price for the repair before any further work.
- Is removal and disposal included?
- When it is listed in the written estimate, yes. The estimate states exactly which removal and preparation work is included.
- How is removal and subfloor preparation priced?
- Describe the job with "Get your estimate". You get a ballpark from our own price list before the site visit, then a written estimate once we have measured and seen the floor.