Layers of a Floor – Anatomy, and Parts

(Illustrated)
A good floor system for your home or house is as good as it’s structural
composition. Squeaks and sags can be avoided if you understand the anatomy
of a floor. Other major problems can be avoided when the new floor covering
interacts well with what’s below it.

The anatomy of the floor has many parts that add both the stability, comfort,
and beauty of your house. The parts of the floor
include; joists, the underlayment, subfloor (beams and adhesives),
and coverings. When they are blended together they form a durable and
stronger floor system.

Floors in your residential home, commercial space or house consist of four

layers.
Layers of a Floor
The four layers that make up the wood floor system consist of; the Joists,
Sub-floor, Underlayment, and Floor Covering. Discussed below are the four
layers of a floor with their purpose on the top-down technique.

1. Floor Covering
Flooring covering also popularly known as the finish floor or flooring. This is
the visible upper finished layer of a flooring system surface. It may include
materials like hardwood planks, carpets, cork, linoleum, concrete, ceramic tile,
and vinyl floorings. This is the layer you see daily, walk on, and place your
furniture on among other items. It is the ultimate layer that covers the other
structural layers of flooring. It’s the upper surface of a floor system structure

The flooring materials can be installed differently depending on the needs and
requirements of a room. When selecting the flooring you need to consider,
the area moisture content, cleaning and maintenance methods, durability,
quality, and the feel and comfort it provides when walking on it.

Select and install durable floor coverings, like tile, concrete, hardwood, vinyl,
and laminate in areas with high traffic or even where accidental spills may
occur like the kitchen. Consider and pick a soft and invitingly textured
covering like area rugs or carpets over hardwood in family rooms, dining
rooms, and bedrooms.
Purpose of floor covering
The floor covering provides a smooth, durable, clean, impervious, hard, and
attractive surface. The flooring provides a strong durable base that is easy to
clean and maintain with a wide range of designs and styles to choose from. In
general, it provides a finished material for us to walk on.

2. Underlayment
What is an underlayment? This is a thin layer of material installed between
other materials. Floor underlayment is mostly made from sponge rubber,
foam, felt, crumb rubber, and recycled plastic.

The underlayment material is installed below the floor covering and placed on
top of a sub-floor. Under the visible covering, there is a layer made of soft or
foam-like materials with a thickness of between 1/4- or 1/2-inch.

The underlayments are available in different materials to choose from

depending on the flooring needs and the type of the floor covering to be
installed. Some common choices include; foam, hardboard, cork, plywood, and
cement board. In case you considering installing engineered or hardwood
flooring, the best underlayment may be foam or cork. However, cork may offer
some added advantages to your flooring.

Purpose of floor Underlayment

The Purpose of floor underlayment is to provide comfort underfoot as well as
reduce wear on the covering. Its purpose is to provide a smooth, flat surface
for the floor covering. It also serves additional functions like deadening the
sound of footsteps, softens the feeling underfoot, or even as a moisture
barrier.

It also provides sound insulation, improves moisture resistance, retains

warmth, heat, and even retard fire outbreaks. Underlayment in many cases
helps to rectify sub-floor imperfections. Always pick the best underlayment for
laminate, vinyl, and hardwood floors.
3. Sub-floor
What is a sub-floor? This is a layer between the floor underlayment and the
joists. Its sturdy structural part resting on top of the floor joists It acts as a
foundation of the underlayment and the floor covering.

Sub-floor helps to make the floor smoother and comfortable to walk on. Sub-
floor generally holds all the above layers plus people, furniture, pets, and
everything in the house. the subfloor can be made from particleboard, OSB,
Plywood, or concrete.

This layer may be made of OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood. It is part
of the house floor system construction used installed between the
underlayment and floor covering, The OSB or plywood are commonly used as
an integral material for the sub-flooring structure of the home flooring.
Subfloor Increases the strength and rigidity of the floor system since it’s
attached to the joists.
Purpose of Sub-floor
What is the purpose of the sub-floor? Subfloor provides the foundation of the
floor. It levels the surface and makes it easier to install, the upper covering,
hardwood, vinyl, linoleum tile, or even carpets. Sub-floor provides support and
ultimately makes the floor look aesthetic.

There are some major problems that affect the sub-floor. In case you didn’t
pay a lot of attention during the construction of the second most important
structural element of your floor, you are bound to come along the sub-floor
issue below.

 Foul smell: This signify moisture build up-forming mold and mildew on
the sub-floor. As such it may come from below or from the floor
covering. Water moisture is one of the worst enemies of the sub-floor
take necessary precautions
 Sagging: Its a sigh of sub-floor getting worn out or there is a structural
weakness.
 Squeak sound as you walk on the floor: A new sound will always signify
a damaged sub-floor and need to be fixed
 The floor is great as its foundation. If you want to keep enjoying your
floor aesthetic look, consider investing in its sub-floor.
It plays a very important part in your home and making sure your floors
stay beautiful and enjoying it for a long. Hire a flooring professional, the
sub-floor issues can’t be diagnosed by you alone or not recommended
as a DIY project
4. Joists
Also known as band sill. What is a joist? This is a structural form of a beam
that spans horizontally between the foundation of a building or walls or two
beams. They are lateral wooden framing members rest on foundation walls
and beams and provide the structural support for the entire framing
system. Sometimes they’re noisy, squeak or bounce.
Purpose of Floor Joists
It provides the structural support of the entire floor, and at times may not
consider as part of floor layers. Its an essential part of the layer matrix
although in concrete slab floor it’s not there.

They are the pillars of the structure that support all the other parts of the floor,
except on concrete slab. It supports a subfloor that spans over an open area.

When joined with floor framing system the joists provide and enhance the
stiffness of the sub-floor sheathing. This allows it to function as a horizontal
diaphragm of the floor.

The joist are mostly made from, laminated wood, engineered wood and
dimensional lumber. The joist also has its challenges, especially after the sub
floor has been installed

 How do you replace damaged joists?

 How to find it the joist on top of a subfloor?
 The standard size of the joist
The joist span is determined by floor strength, wood species, joist spacing,
depth of joist, spacing, and engineering. These will help determine the
distance between support joists below the sub-floor. When the sub-floor is
nailed on top of the floor joists, it forms the flooring system.

Joists are build to support the load on which the floor is built to bear. They are
typically made from lumber or engineered microbial members. In combination
with other joists, it provides support to the floor or even at times ceiling.
How do i find joist under sub-floor?
To find the joist under the sub-floor from the floor covering like carpet or
hardwood floor requires the use of a hammer. Tap the floor from one edge or
corner and listen for a thud sound. Generally, the most area will have a hollow
sound, a thud sound signify the presence of joist. You can continue until you
determine the area where the next joist is. Hoping the were installed with the
same distance from one another, you can quicken the process by measuring
the distance of the identifies joist to locate others.

What is the difference between a beam and a joist?

Joist and beams are structural flooring elements made for similar and related
functions. They are the primary structural component for a floor and roof.
Beams are large in size while joist are smaller. Beams are used to support the
joists by providing support to the horizontal structure of the floor. Joists and
beams can be made from solid and engineered wood or even steel. However,
Joists are commonly made from solid lumber

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