New flooring products are easy to install, but a smooth, level surface upon which to install them is the secret to professional looking results. Watch as we replace this bathroom floor’s existing underlay.

Today’s new flooring products make it easier than ever to install a beautiful new floor. Many such products can be installed without noxious adhesives, and the only tools you need are a carpenter’s square and utility knife. For great results, however, there’s one step that you shouldn’t ignore: preparing the underlay. As with many DIY jobs, preparation is the key to success.

With flooring, preparation entails providing a perfectly smooth and level underlay. I recently helped my son with this part of the job in his bathroom. Click through our step-by-step process below.

Flooring Underlay Replacement In our case, we were replacing the underlay in the bathroom,so we turned off all water supply valves and removed the toilet and vanity. If the nuts and bolts that secure the toilet to the floor are corroded, as were the ones shown here, use a small hacksaw to cut them off. Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

Flooring Underlay Replacement

In our case, we were replacing the underlay in the bathroom,so we turned off all water supply valves and removed the toilet and vanity. If the nuts and bolts that secure the toilet to the floor are corroded, as were the ones shown here, use a small hacksaw to cut them off.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

Remove the old flooring along with any vinyl or wood baseboard moldings. Do not remove bullnose tile baseboard. If you cut the flooring carefully, you can seal the flooring to the tile with caulk.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

If the existing underlay is smooth and level, you’re in luck. Just remove or bang home any fasteners that protrude. More likely, however, the underlay will have globs of old adhesive and bits of old flooring stuck to it. In this case, it was deteriorated around the toilet due to leakage in the past, so we decided to remove it. A pry bar is an essential tool for tearing up the old underlay. Once up, remove any remaining fasteners.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

The top layer of the subfloor (usually two layers of thick plywood under the old underlay) was also damaged in this bathroom. We cut out the affected area using a circular saw in plunge-cut mode and using a sharp chisel to finish the cuts near the wall and tub. Afterwards, vacuum the area thoroughly.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

Then we cut a subfloor patch from 3/4-in. CDX plywood and screwed it in place. The height of the patch must be the same as the rest of the subfloor, so measure carefully.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

Measure for floor penetrations carefully and cut holes and notches with a saber saw. Then slide the new underlay (1/4-inch luan plywood is sold for this purpose) in place.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

Fasten the underlay to the subfloor with screws. Then use a patching compound, such as MH Ready Patch from Rust-Oleum to fill voids, depressions over fasteners, and open joints. Make a final check for smoothness by pushing a wide trowel across the floor. If it snags on anything, address the problem.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

You’re now ready to install the floor. My son chose a vinyl plank product in the TrafficMaster Allure line, sold at The Home Depot, it was a cinch to install. There were no fasteners, just overlapping joints with preapplied adhesive. To cut the planks, simply measure and score the back of the plank. A carpenter’s square is an invaluable tool for this step.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

Then bend, snap and install. The manufacturer recommends rolling the joints to ensure good adhesion.

Flooring Underlay Replacement

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| Tags: Flooring, Flooring Underlay

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