Spent half a day fixing a subfloor dip the homeowner swore wasn't there

I was putting in some vinyl plank in a den yesterday. The guy told me his floor was smooth as could be. Got a few sections down and felt a soft spot underfoot. It was in the exact center of the room, naturally. Had to stop, rip it all up, and mix a bag of patch. Sat around for hours waiting for it to set. Threw my whole schedule off for the day. Now I just assume everyone is wrong about their floors and check twice.

3 comments

3 Comments

keith2791mo ago

Vinyl planks often flex over small subfloor dips.

brookep2726d ago

Yeah but that flex can totally wear out the locking system faster.

grant521mo ago

Wait, really? That hasn't been my experience at all (and I've put down a few floors myself). Even a tiny dip in the subfloor makes them feel spongy and unstable when you walk over that spot. I always thought they needed a seriously level base to avoid that clicky, hollow sound and to keep the locks from stressing. Are you saying you've installed them over an uneven floor and they just bend without any issues? That would honestly save so much prep work, but it just goes against everything I've ever seen.

-3