Home renovation & repair · Rochester area
Subfloor Preparation and Leveling
We check and correct subfloor flatness, movement and moisture before the finished flooring is ordered.
Site visitsEstimates are free. There is no travel fee within 10 miles of our Rochester base. Beyond 10 miles, a travel fee based on travel costs and time is confirmed before scheduling. Site-visit policy
Typical work to discuss
The written estimate confirms what is included for your home.
Typical scope
- Survey of flatness and level across the area
- Removing old adhesive and coverings
- Self-leveling compound and patching
- Measuring deflection and flatness across the room rather than at one point, because a floor fails where it moves most, not on average.
- Identifying whether a high spot is structure, an old repair or a build-up of previous adhesive, since each is removed differently.
- Correcting to the flatness the chosen covering actually requires - tile, engineered plank and sheet goods do not share a tolerance.
- Confirming moisture in the slab or the substrate before anything is bonded to it.
- Writing the correction into the estimate before the floor is ordered, so the preparation is a known cost rather than a discovery.
If existing conditions require it
- Fastening down movement and squeaks
- Replacing failed subfloor sections
Planning the surface beneath your new floor
Tell us which finished flooring you are considering before deciding how to prepare the subfloor. Preparation depends on the existing surface and the selected flooring system, not just on whether a floor looks uneven.
Local high or low spots, damaged areas and changes in height between rooms can lead to different repair plans. A floor that slopes and one with isolated uneven areas may need different assessment. Moisture or movement should be considered before a new covering is installed.
The estimate should distinguish preparation of a sound surface from replacement of damaged sections or other repairs found after removal. Include door clearances, stairs and transitions to adjoining flooring in the discussion.
Helpful details for your estimate
A short description is enough to start. These details and photos are optional.
- The current floor covering and the new material you are considering.
- The location of uneven, soft or previously wet areas.
- Whether the old flooring is already removed and which rooms connect to the area.
What to know before work begins
Plumbing, electrical, gas and HVACWhen a project includes work that requires a licensed trade, the appropriate specialist is engaged for that part of the scope.
Other limits
- Level and flat are different problems with different fixes. A floor can be flat and sloping, and only one of those affects a floating floor.
- Preparation cost is not knowable before the existing covering is up.
- Structural movement is not a flooring correction. Where the framing or joists are what moves, that is separate work and is priced separately after assessment.
- We do not install flooring over a substrate that fails its moisture or flatness requirement. If the required preparation is declined, we decline the installation.
Do you provide materials?
Who supplies each material is agreed for the project and recorded in the written estimate. We confirm purchasing responsibilities before work begins.
Do I need photos to request an estimate?
No. Photos are optional, but they can help us understand the existing condition.
Request an estimate
Send the project ZIP code and a short description of the work. Photos are optional.