Subfloor Repair Cost
The subfloor is that extra layer under the floor, which is installed across the floor joists. This may start to rot at some point if it is exposed to water, or you may want to replace it due to the damage produced by your dog’s or cat’s urine. In most cases, people repair the subfloor in a bathroom as it is exposed to more moisture and water, but it can be repaired in other rooms of your house.
How Much Does Subfloor Repair Cost?
The subfloor repair cost is affected by several factors such as the complexity of the job, whether you have to replace the floor as well, the place where you are living, the contractor you choose, and the flooring condition. Expect to pay anywhere between $15 and $40 per square foot when working with a professional contractor. This price is available only for removing the flooring and does not include the removal of other materials such as carpet, wood, or tile.
The cost of the smaller jobs such as sagging floors, buckling floors, or rotted floor joists would be anywhere between $450 and $1,200.
Be prepared to pay around $15 per square foot for an easy, straightforward tear-out. Though, the costs may increase to $40 per square foot if the contractor has to gain access beneath the walls to modify the structural support.
These price estimates should include all labor, cleanup, and subflooring materials.
You might also like our articles on the cost of engineered hardwood floor installation, floor joist repair, or vinyl plank flooring installation.
According to a member of the DIY Chat Room forum, the cost of a 500 square feet subfloor repair is around $650. He had to pay around $320 for materials and $47 per hour for labor costs.
Expect to spend around $420 for repairing dry rot in the floor around the toilet, according to the data on the Ask the Handyman website.
As all the jobs are going to be unique and different, take into consideration searching online for licensed and reputable contractors where you are living. The contractors will offer you a price estimate after you describe your job.
What are the additional expenses?
If you have to remove the tile, hardwood flooring, or carpet in order to access the subfloor, this flooring may need to be replaced in case it can’t be saved. You may have to replace the whole floor, depending on the size of the room, especially in the case of a bathroom. Again, depending on the size of the room, the cost to replace the flooring may increase to thousands of dollars.
In some situations, you may have to replace the joists, as well. The costs for repairing the joist would be anywhere between $110 and $310 per joist.
The cause of a damaged subfloor may be a leaky tub/shower or/and a leaky toilet. In this situation, you will have to budget for replacing parts of these items or buy new ones to stop the leaking.
Important things to consider
When it comes to the materials used for the subfloor, the first option is extruded polystyrene. This is a material with very good thermal properties. In addition, it is rigid, does not absorb water, and is highly resistant to compression.
If you are wondering what goes under the floor, you should know that there are two other ecological materials used in this regard. Although they are not used very often, they still have a number of advantages that are worth mentioning.
Specifically, these materials are wool and hemp fibers. Obviously, the most appreciated advantage is their natural origin. In addition to insulating the floor well, hemp can absorb carbon dioxide from the home. Among the advantages of these materials we can list the following:
- effectively insulates thermally and acoustically;
- has the ability to absorb moisture;
- it resists pests and molds well.
The material that is used as subfloor does not only protect the floor, it also offers a number of benefits such as: reducing floor wear, thermally insulating the cold floor, does not allow mold to appear, it insulates sound, the floor can be properly leveled, it is very easy to mount.
How can I save money?
Contact your home insurance company and see if they cover the costs of repairing the damages caused by water. These costs may be covered and you will be responsible only for your deductible, depending on the type of policy you have.
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