If you live in the Pacific Northwest, remodeling your bathroom is one of the best investments you can make. However, you don’t have to remodel just to increase the value of your house. By using renewable resources, you can modernize your bathroom to be more water-efficient and environmentally friendly.

All the appliances must be taken out before beginning. The floor and subfloor must be removed in order to replace a rotting bathroom floor, which requires a significant demolition project.

The best course of action for replacing the floor is what? In this post, we will share with you the procedures we found for removing and replacing the bathroom floor.

Important Safety Considerations

Use a respirator if you’ll be creating sawdust or tile dust while working or if you’re removing moldy or mildewed flooring. If there’s any question as to whether the floor tiles might contain asbestos, consult a professional before doing anything.

Steps to Replace a Rotted Bathroom Floor

Make a list of all the equipment you’ll need before replacing the floor. This will keep you from having to run back to the store during the middle of your project. Let’s take a closer look at the most typical tools and supplies required for this kind of work.

Things you’ll need:

• Pry bar
• Hammer
• 5/8″ plywood
• 2-inch wood screws
• Tape measure
• Floor leveling compound
• Trash bags
• Drill
• Circular saw
• Galvanized nails
• Wood joist replacements (if applicable)
• Construction adhesive
• 5/8-inch plywood
• Level

Read More: How To Fix Uneven Plywood Subfloors – 2023 Tutorials

1. Close the Water Valves

To avoid any water leaks while you’re working on the floor, turn off the main water valve to the bathroom before starting your project. A water valve ought to be present either in the basement of your house or under the sink.

2. Prepare the Room

Cover the bathtub, shower, sink, and any cabinetry with a plastic sheet or tarp to protect them from dust accumulation as you prepare the room for demolition. Cover the toilet and take out any movable furniture that may be in the space, as well as cover the toilet.

Because taking out the floors can create a lot of dust, be sure to protect yourself as well. When removing the flooring, put on a dust mask, goggles, and work gloves.

Read More: How to Retile a Bathroom – Is It Difficult to Retile?

3. Inspect the Areas That Need Replacement

Next, examine the flooring and measure the necessary replacement areas with your tape measure. If the entire space needs to be replaced, be sure to measure precisely around the sink, toilet, and bathtub from wall to wall.

4. Remove the Flooring

The flooring in the bathroom must be taken out next. Depending on the material used to create your flooring, this procedure will change. Using a pry bar or chisel and hammer to pry up hard stone or tile flooring will make removing it the floor the simplest option. With laminate or vinyl flooring, you can first lift the floor with a prybar and then pull the pieces away from the subfloor with your hands. To remove the flooring from a hardwood floor, a prybar or chisel and hammer are the best tools. (Also Check: How to Repair Hardwood Flooring with Simple Steps)

5. Inspect the Subfloor

After removing the flooring, carefully inspect the subfloor. Is it ruined or rotting? If it is, you should also take it out. You can accomplish this by first removing the subfloor’s nails or screws with a hammer or screwdriver, and then lifting the plywood panels from the joists with a pry bar. Make sure the thickness and size of your new subfloor panels match those of the old panels.

6. Inspect the Joists

You can now examine the floor joists to see if they need to be replaced since you have access to them. If this is the case, mark the items that require replacement with a pencil or a piece of painter’s tape. You’ll also want to get the measurements for the joists as well. If the joists are simply wet but not damaged, give them 24 to 48 hours to dry completely before replacing the subfloor.

7. Replace Or Reinforce Joists

Once the room has dried out, replace any damaged joists or reinforce any loose joists. For consistency, it’s best to use wood that resembles the existing joists. Aside from that, exercise caution when replacing the joists because you always want to have a firm footing on top of them.

8. Replace the Subfloor

Subfloor panels should be installed using your woodscrews after the damaged joists have been replaced. The space between the subfloor and the new flooring should be about 1/8 inch wide if the flooring isn’t level.

A flooring compound that can be sanded down can be used in this area to fill any gaps. You won’t need this space, though, if the floor is already level. To ensure that the subfloor is level before putting in the flooring, it is best to use a level.

9. Replace the Flooring

After you have installed the subfloor, it’s time to add the new flooring. Work your way backward when putting in the new flooring, beginning at the spot that is farthest from the door. In case you need to make any last-minute cuts, you should also keep a circular saw or a tile cutter close at hand, depending on the type of flooring you have.

Why is My Bathroom Floor Sinking?

Water damage is the most frequent reason for a sinking bathroom floor. Bathroom floors frequently deteriorate in two places. The first can be found around the bathtub and is the result of years of water splashing or dripping down the wall. Additionally frequent is water damage around the base of the toilet, which is typically caused by leaks left unattended or worn-out sealant.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace Bathroom Floor Rot?

Bathroom floor replacement can cost anywhere from $300 to over $3,500. The size of the bathroom, the degree of rot, and the type of material used on the top floor are among the elements that affect costs.

For instance, replacing laminate or vinyl flooring in your bathroom will be less expensive than replacing hardwood flooring. It will also cost between $1.50 and $4 per square foot in materials if the subfloor and the joists beneath it also need to be replaced. Depending on where you live, labor costs can range from $10 to $28 per hour.

How Do You Replace Rotting Floor Joists?

Replacing floor joists is necessary if they have become rotted from water damage. Remember that once the joists are installed, accuracy and attention to detail are essential for the floor’s safety. Let’s look at how to do it.

1. Remove the Subfloor

Remove the subfloor to gain access to the joists beneath it. Use a pry bar or a chisel and hammer to gently lift the flooring to accomplish this. The screws also need to be taken out first.

2. Inspect, Mark, and Remove the Damaged Joists

Mark the joists that require replacement with a pencil and a measuring tape. When the time comes to cut the plywood, this will make it simpler to locate them. Use a drill and circular saw to remove any damaged joists.

3. Measure and Cut the Plywood

Cut the new joists as necessary with your circular saw.

4. Install the New Joists

Next, make sure that you are standing firmly when replacing the joist. To fasten the new joists into place, use your drill and two-inch wood screws.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Subfloor?

Whether or not your home insurance covers subfloors depends on the type of insurance plan that you have. If your subfloor becomes damaged due to hurricanes, wind, or other weather-related disasters, you’ll likely be able to use the insurance to pay for the damage.

However, if internal water leaks caused damage, the subfloor may not be covered. It is best to learn as soon as possible about your coverage options so that the damaged areas can be removed before they spread to other parts of the house.

Wrapping Things Up

Your queries about how to replace a rotted bathroom floor should be addressed by this post, we hope. If you believe that your floor is rotted and in need of replacement, it may be best to first consult with a licensed contractor to help assess the damage and provide an overview of the process needed to repair the flooring.

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