Signs Your Subfloor Needs to Be Replaced

Because it’s hidden underneath your floor, the subfloor may not be something you think about very often. However, it plays a major role in supporting certain types of flooring, like hardwood floors or carpeting, which can’t be attached directly to the floor joists in your home. A subfloor can last up to 30 years but does eventually need to be replaced.

Here are some signs that it’s time to get a new subfloor.

Sign #1

There’s a Musty Smell

If you can smell must but can’t figure out where it’s coming from, it may be coming from underneath your floor. The musty smell could be a sign of water damage to the subfloor. If there is a musty smell, what you’re actually smelling is mold or mildew that has built up on the subfloor.

Sign #2

Your Floors Squeak

Squeaking is usually caused by the nails holding the floor to the subfloor moving in and out of the joists as you walk across the floor. One squeaky spot may be repairable, but squeaking across the entire floor is a sign that the subfloor has warped.

Sign #3

The Floors Are Uneven

If you notice that your floors are uneven, there are a few possible causes, but they all typically mean that you need a new subfloor. The unevenness could be due to warped subfloor material or it could be that some parts of the subfloor have begun to rot. If rotting is the problem, it’s essential to get it repaired or replaced as quickly as possible so it doesn’t spread to other parts of the floor.

Sign #4

You Can Feel the Floors Move Beneath Your Feet

Your floor should be firm under your feet. Even if you’ve got carpet, you still shouldn’t feel your floor moving beneath your feet. If your floor feels bouncy, springy, or spongy, that’s a sign of a problem with your subfloor. As fun as a bouncy house is, if you’re feeling a bit like you’re in one on your wood floor, it’s time for the subfloor to be replaced.

Sign #5

Your Tile Floor Has Broken Tiles

If you have tile, it’s important for the subfloor beneath to be firm enough to support them. If you notice that your tiles are cracking and breaking, that’s a sign that the subfloor is too soft. This could be because it wasn’t made strong enough in the first place or because it’s developed a problem like rot that is weakening its ability to properly hold up your tiles.

Sign #6

Your Linoleum Appears to Be Bubbling

If you have linoleum floor, bubbling could be a sign of a problem. It’s possible for the bubbling to be caused by moisture built up in the subfloor. Bubbling doesn’t always mean that it needs replacement, but it is definitely a sign to investigate it further.

Sign #7

Your Wood Floor Is Cupping

Cupping is when the center part of each wooden board of your floor starts to sink in, creating a “cup” with the edges higher. This can be caused by moisture coming from underneath the floor. It’s reversible by a professional, but may be an indicator that your subfloor is water-damaged.

Sign #8

The Toilet Is Loose

In your bathroom, if you notice that your toilet moves when you sit down on it or get up from it, then that’s a sign the subfloor is in need of a replacement. The toilet rocks because the subfloor underneath it has rotted or is otherwise so damaged that it can no longer properly hold your toilet.

Sign #9

There Are Leaks in Your Ceiling

Leaks coming from the ceiling aren’t necessarily caused by a problem with your subfloor. However, if water is making its way from somewhere upstairs through the floor and to the ceiling below, then there could also be water damage occurring with the subfloor upstairs.