Subfloor preparation
Audio for slide 1 (mp3 |6|KB)
Before you can lay a floor covering, you need to make sure the subfloor is flat, smooth and sound.
Depending on the state of the subfloor and the materials it is made of, you might decide to 'build up' the surface with a cement or wood-based underlay, or 'go down' by removing existing layers of material until you achieve a suitable surface finish.
Depending on the state of the subfloor and the materials it is made of, you might decide to 'build up' the surface with a cement or wood-based underlay, or 'go down' by removing existing layers of material until you achieve a suitable surface finish.
Audio for slide 3 (mp3 |6|KB)
Learning activity
Audio 31 (mp3 |6|KB)Choose one type of subfloor preparation you've been involved in and list all the tools that were used in that job.
Write down the following information:
- type of subfloor and materials used in the substrate (e.g. particleboard flooring on timber floor joists, concrete slab on the ground, etc.)
- hand and power tools used by you and the other members of your team to prepare the substrate up to the stage of laying the floor covering
- brief description of what each tool was used for.
Include all the general hand-held tools that were needed, as well as any specialised tools. Your list may end up including a lot more items than those we've covered in the above two lessons. For example, you may also have used a nail punch, pliers, cold chisel or hand plane.
If you haven't been involved in a subfloor preparation before, choose a particular type of subfloor and list all the tools that you think would be required to prepare it.
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