Signs your subfloor needs attention once the old floor is out

The window between the old floor coming out and the new floor going in is the only cheap opportunity to fix what is underneath.

Look for cracks in the slab that run wide or continue up a wall, which can point at movement rather than normal shrinkage. Look for dark staining or a musty smell, which usually means moisture is coming through.

On raised floors, watch for soft spots, deflection between joists, water damage around plumbing walls, and squeaks that were hidden by carpet padding.

Flatness matters too. Modern luxury vinyl plank has tighter flatness tolerances than the tile it usually replaces, and a slab that was fine under tile may need grinding or a self-leveler.

We flag all of it while the floor is open and tell you what actually needs attention versus what is cosmetic. Fixing it now costs a fraction of fixing it through a brand new floor.