How to Cover a Hole in a Plywood Subfloor

Lift your carpet and padding by grasping the edge with pliers, or remove wood or tile flooring with a hammer and screwdriver to lift the wood or tile pieces. Expose the damaged subfloor and place the flooring materials off to the side.

Create a square or rectangular perimeter around the hole in your plywood subfloor. Use a framing square and pencil to draw lines around the hole and create your square or rectangular shape. Make sure the sides of your square lie directly over the center of the floor joists.

Guide your skill saw along the lines drawn on your subfloor. Cut out the rectangular or square shape to remove the damaged subfloor. Use your hammer and screwdriver to remove any nails or screws securing the subfloor to the joists below.

Prepare your precut two-by-four for installation as the base for your new plywood subfloor patch. Ensure the two-by-four is 4 to 6 inches longer on each end than the area of subfloor you'll be patching.

Drill two holes in the center of your two-by-four on the 4-inch side, much like you would see on a bowling ball. Make holes your index and middle fingers will fit into.

Slide your index and middle fingers into the holes to help you hold the wood in place beneath the subfloor. Tuck one end of the two-by-four under your cut-out subfloor area. Tuck the other end of the wood beneath the opposite end of the hole to be patched. While holding the wood piece in place with your fingers, secure it to the surrounding subfloor with a power screwdriver and screws to create support for the plywood patch.

Place wood adhesive on the perimeter of the plywood that's been precut to fit the hole you're patching. Position the plywood in the hole with the adhesive side facing down. Press the plywood down along the perimeter.

Screw the plywood patch into the floor joists and the two-by-four positioned beneath it.

Secure your flooring materials over the subfloor.