what is a sleeper subfloor

What is a sleeper floor? Subfloor sleeper are used in basements to protect certain types of flooring such as laminate, hardwood, and carpet. Most basements have concrete floors, which have the potential to draw moisture. The sleeper is designed to prevent warping and mold growth, which ultimately extends the life of your floor.

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What is the difference between sleeper floor and subfloor?

Subfloor panels offer much easier installation than the traditional technique of nailing down 2x4 sleepers over the concrete and covering them with plywood. Panel systems are also thinner than a sleeper floor so they add less height to the floor assembly—an important benefit in height-challenged basement rooms.

How do you install sleepers on a subfloor?

Measure and cut the sleepers as you would for a concrete floor, but position the sleepers in one of two ways. Either line them up directly over the joists that lie beneath the subfloor, or run them perpendicular to the joists.

What is a subfloor and what is it used for?

As we mentioned, the purpose of a subfloor is to provide stability and integrity to the finished floor. A level, smooth, and dry subfloor also makes for easier installation of nearly all types of flooring. Plywood is the most common type of subfloor. It’s constructed from wood veneer sheets that are glued together.

What are the different types of subflooring materials?

The most common types of modern subflooring are plywood or oriented strandboard (OSB), while older homes may have lumber subfloors. A subfloor can also be made of concrete. Finished flooring materials can be installed directly over the subfloor or over an underlayment added to the subfloor.

What are sleepers in floors?

“Sleepers” are 2-by-4 lengths of wood on the slab spaced 16 inches on center. But first, begin either method by covering the slab with a vapor barrier.

What is a sleeper substrate?

Sleeper-constructed subfloor - Consists of wood subfloor installed over or on an existing concrete subfloor on- or below-grade without 18" of well-ventilated air space.

How do you lay a sleeper floor?

Level Sleepers After making sure that the floor is level, use cedar shims to level the sleepers. Lay a 4-foot level across the sleepers to make sure they lie on the same plane. Insert cedar shims to raise the sleepers at low spots. Fasten the sleepers (through the shims) with powder-actuated fasteners.

What are the different types of subflooring?

There are four primary materials used as subfloor: plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), concrete, and high-performance panels. There are other subfloors materials out there, but they are used in more niche situations.

What subfloor is best?

Plywood. Plywood is considered the most popular material used for subflooring, it has been used since the 1950s and remains one of the top choices for contractors. Standard plywood works perfectly fine as a subflooring material, but the best option is ¾” tongue-and-groove plywood subflooring.

What is the best subfloor for hardwood floors?

PlywoodHardwood flooring: Plywood is the best subfloor for hardwood flooring installation. CDX plywood ranging from 1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick and rated A/C will serve well for any hardwood flooring installation. Tongue-and-groove plywood is available to reduce squeaks and help the subfloor fit together better.

What is the best subfloor for a basement?

Rigid foam is an excellent basement subfloor option because it provides a thermal break between concrete and flooring....Rigid Foam Insulation Subfloor.Foam SubfloorTopFinish flooringMiddlePlywood screwed down through the layer below Rigid foam insulation—1 1/2-inch thick2 more rows•Jul 7, 2022

What is a sleeper in construction?

sleeper wall is a short wall used to support floor joists, beam and block or hollowcore slabs at ground floor. It is constructed in this fashion when a suspended floor(Also called suspended slab) is required due to bearing conditions or ground water presence.

How do you level a subfloor sleeper?

1:462:40How To Level Your Floors - Scribing Sleepers The Easy Way - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI always like to go back. And put three screws one on each end and then one in the center becauseMoreI always like to go back. And put three screws one on each end and then one in the center because the screws always grab better. So that's how you cut sleepers to level and flatten the floor.

What is the most durable subfloor?

Best for Durability and Maintenance: Plywood As subfloor materials, both plywood and OSB should last as long as the house itself if the subfloor has been properly installed. There is no maintenance required, except to keep the subfloor as dry as possible.

What are the two main types of subfloor structure?

Subfloors are often used when it is not desirable, viable or possible to have a concrete slab floor. The two most common examples of this are: Multi storey builds or extensions; and. Modular or elevated builds.

Which is better for subfloor OSB or plywood?

OSB has a lower resale value than plywood due to its lower strength. For this reason, few homeowners prefer OSB in their homes. Apart from costs, plywood is superior in all the other areas, such as the strength of the structure. For this reason, it's a superior material for use on the subfloor.

What are sleepers used for?

Traditionally used to lay rail tracks on, railway sleepers are large rectangular sawn pieces of timber that are now used in a variety of landscaping and gardening environments, such as raised beds, lawn and border edging, steps, pathways and retaining walls.

What do you put behind sleepers?

You can use DPM on the rear of the timber, and pea gravel backfill directly behind sleepers. The pea gravel will allow a free draining area behind the wall. You could also add a length of land drain wrapped in geotextile membrane, to keep fine particles of soil out of pipe.

What is a sleeper in civil engineering?

The functions of sleepers in railway works are as follows: (i) The primary function of a sleeper is to grip the rail to gauge and to distribute the rail loads to ballast with acceptable induced pressure. (ii) The side functions of a sleeper include the avoidance of both longitudinal and lateral track movement.

What are sleepers in construction?

sleeper wall is a short wall used to support floor joists, beam and block or hollowcore slabs at ground floor. It is constructed in this fashion when a suspended floor(Also called suspended slab) is required due to bearing conditions or ground water presence.

How to make low floor framing that will conserve headroom?

To make low flooring framing that will conserve headroom, lay pressure-treated 2x4s (sleepers) flat and cover them with 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove OSB underlayment or exterior plywood. Start to finish 4 hrs.

How do I waterproof a plastic floor?

Prepare the floor by vacuuming and installing a waterproofing membrane on asphalt mastic. Overlap the seams of the plastic sheet at least 6 inches and tape the seams with the tape recommended by the manufacturer. Starting with a 1/4-inch gap along the walls, mark the sheet with a felt marker at 16-inch intervals.

What is subflooring?

Subflooring covers the joists. Usually, it’s nailed to them. Together, the joists and subfloor distribute all the weight your floors take from above—running for the phone, flopping onto the heavy couch, dance parties with your dog (we don’t judge), your kids’ wrestling matches, etc.

What is the purpose of subflooring?

As we mentioned, the purpose of a subfloor is to provide stability and integrity to the finished floor. A level, smooth, and dry subfloor also makes for easier installation of nearly all types of flooring .. Plywood is the most common type of subfloor. It’s constructed from wood veneer sheets that are glued together.

What are the parts of a floor?

Basically, most floors have 3 parts: Joists are the structural ribs of your floors. These heavy-duty beams run under the floors of every room in your house. In an old house, you can go into the basement, look up, and see the joists. Subflooring covers the joists. Usually, it’s nailed to them.

What happens if your subfloor is compromised?

No matter how careful you are when maintaining your new floors on the surface, if your subfloor is compromised, it can ruin them from the bottom up. Three common complaints are: floors suddenly becoming squeaky, floors having “squishy” spots, and floors having musty smells.

Why do you need underlayment?

There are many reasons for adding underlayment: it can reinforce the subfloor for a heavy material like tile; it can act as a sound barrier for a second-floor room; perhaps most importantly, it can serve as a vapor barrier . But we’re going to get into that in just a moment.

Is concrete a subfloor?

It’s affordable, easy to work with, and durable. Concrete is a more common subfloor in basements, and sometimes on the first floor of residential homes that don’t have basements (we’re looking at you, Cali fornia).

Do you need to test a concrete floor before installing a new floor?

Remember: if you’re working with a concrete subfloor, you should always test for moisture prior to installing your new floor. Concrete can be compromised if it’s cracked or holding moisture, and underlayment will likely be recommended since it can act as a vapor barrier.

How many inches should a sleeper be?

Lay out the interior sleeper pattern on 16-inch centers. This means from the middle of one sleeper to the middle of the next sleeper, it should be exactly 16 inches. Make the layout marks on the top of the perimeter boards.

How do I attach a sleeper board to a concrete floor?

Cut the board with a circular saw along the chalk line and attach it to the concrete floor the same way you attached the perimeter sleeper boards. Leave about a 1/2-inch gap between the end of the board and the perimeter boards to allow for expansion.

How to measure for a concrete floor?

Measure from the first mark you made straight down to the floor and subtract 1 inch. For example, if it's 4 inches from the beam mark to the concrete floor, subtract 1 inch to arrive at 3 inches. This is the control measurement that you will use to adjust the other corners.

Do basement floors slope?

While most floors are relatively level, some are purposefully constructed on a grade, such as garage floors or basement floors that slope toward a floor drain. During a remodel or a garage conversion, it's standard practice to level a sloping floor before installing new floor covering.

Can you use sleepers on a wooden floor?

You can also use sleepers on a wooden floor frame. Measure and cut the sleepers as you would for a concrete floor, but position the sleepers in one of two ways. Either line them up directly over the joists that lie beneath the subfloor, or run them perpendicular to the joists.

Where to install solid blocking under bleachers?

If required by the flooring system manufacturer, install solid blocking under bleachers in the stacked position and where portable backstops or other areas subjected to high loads as shown on architectural drawings. If required by manufacturer, install recommended blocking below bleachers in the extended position.

Is concrete subflooring acceptable?

Concrete subfloors shall have an adequate moisture barrier beneath and at the perimeter of the slab. Subject to local conditions. Sand-Poly-Sand slab construction is not acceptable. Concrete shall be free of washed river gravel, pea gravel, flint or hardener additives.

What is subflooring in a house?

Subflooring is an essential part of a home's floor structure. Whether you're looking to add flooring to your home or are updating your interior, understanding the different types of subfloor will help you make the best choice. Subflooring is the structural surface of a floor that supports the finished flooring.

What is a subfloor made of?

Subfloors made of concrete typically are in the form of a solid concrete slab, such as a basement floor or a slab-on-grade foundation. A concrete subfloor can be covered with a variety of flooring materials, or it can serve as the finished floor itself.

What is OSB plywood?

Plywood and OSB come in 4 x 8-foot sheets that are typically 3/4 inch thick. The sheets are installed over the joists with construction adhesive and screws or nails. Oriented strandboard, or OSB, is an alternative to plywood subflooring. Image Credit: architectphd/iStock/GettyImages.

What is OSB subfloor?

The most common types of subfloors you'll find in homes today are made from either plywood or OSB. Plywood subflooring is much like standard plywood but has special tongue-and-groove edges to help stiffen the floor and prevent squeaks. OSB is similar to plywood but has a different construction. While plywood is made of thin layers of wood sandwiched together with adhesive, OSB consists of small wood chips and particles glued together and pressed into a panel form, according to the Tile Council of North America.

What is the oldest type of subflooring?

The oldest type of wood subflooring used in homes is made from lumber and is known as wood-plank subflooring. Older homes with squeaky flooring may have wood-plank subfloors underneath, which are usually made from softwoods like pine. These planks are typically 1x6 pieces of wood that are nailed into the floor joists.

How much is OSB compared to plywood?

In terms of cost, OSB is less expensive than plywood by about $3 to $5 per panel, according to Diffen. This can add up when installing your subfloor over a large space. Advertisement.

What is a floating floor over concrete?

This engineered material acts as a floating floor over concrete to provide extra protection from moisture and create a softer feel underfoot.

How do I lay sleeper joists on a floor?

Lay the center sleeper joists by placing them all 16 inches apart across the surface of the floor. Ensure that the end of each sleeper leaves a 1/4-inch gap between the side boards. Cut the sleeper joists down using a circular saw if needed to create the necessary gap.

How do I level a sleeper joist?

Apply a 1/4-inch bead of construction adhesive around the perimeter of a wood shim and turn the glue side toward the floor. Slide the shim under the sleepers until the air bubble is in the center of the level. Repeat the process across the entire floor to level all remaining sleeper joists.

Tools and Materials

Step 1 – Prep The Floor Surface

Step 3 – Insulate The Spaces in Between The Sleepers

Step 4 – Install The Subfloor Material