How to Repair Subflooring in a Mobile Home
The subflooring under the carpet or vinyl in your mobile home is likely made from a sheet of particle board. Particle board is constructed from sawdust and wood waste that is mixed with a special resin and pressed in a machine that forms it into sheets. The downside of using particle board for subflooring in a mobile home is the potential for water damage. When particle board comes in contact with water it becomes soft and weak and breaks down. You will know when subflooring repairs are necessary by the soft spot you feel as you walk over the floor. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Utility knife
- Floor scraper or putty knife
- Circular saw
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- 2-by-4-inch lumber
- Floor insulation
- Drill
- 2-inch galvanized screws
- 3/4-inch exterior grade plywood
- Construction adhesive
Instructions
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1
Remove the carpet or vinyl floor covering to expose the subflooring from the area needing repairs. Cut sheet vinyl with a utility knife and peel it off the subflooring. Lift the corner of the carpet and roll it out of the way without cutting it. Scrape peel-and-stick vinyl tiles off the subflooring with a floor scraper or large putty knife.
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2
Remove the damaged subflooring. Cut along the wall and the perimeter of the damaged area with a circular saw.
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3
Remove the old screws with a drill or remove nails with a hammer. Pry the sections of particle board off the joists with a pry bar. Clean the area of all particle board and debris.
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4
Remove any old nails, staples or screws from the top of the 2-by-4-inch joists. Scrape off old glue from the top of the joist surface with a floor scraper or putty knife. Clean up all debris from the area.
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Measure the joists and cut 2-by-4-inch lumber to size with a circular saw to replace, repair or create joists. Reinforce existing joists by cutting 2-by-4-inch boards to size with a circular saw and screwing them to the old joist with a drill and 2-inch galvanized screws. Add or replace the floor insulation by cutting it to size and fitting it between the joists.
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Measure the repair area and cut the 3/4-inch plywood to size with a circular saw. Run a bead of construction adhesive across the top of all exposed joists and place the plywood on top of the joists. Screw the plywood subflooring to the joists with a drill and 2-inch galvanized screws every 4 to 6 inches to secure it. Replace the floor covering.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective gloves, a mask and safety glasses when removing subflooring to avoid splinters and dust in your eyes or lungs.
Set your circular saw at 1 inch to prevent damaging the joists when cutting out the subflooring.
It may be necessary to create a new joist along the wall line for additional floor support because the existing joist may be too far under the wall line for directly attaching the new subfloor.
