How to Fix a Damaged Subfloor Under a Carpet

Remove the Carpet

• 1

  Remove all furnishings from the damaged subfloor area.

• 2

  Walk to the edge of the carpet and locate the shoe molding or baseboard against the wall. Insert a pry bar under the molding and pull out the nails from the floor. Work your way down the wall to pull off the entire piece of molding. Repeat the process on the side walls or at least halfway around the room.

• 3

  Put on heavy work gloves then grasp the edge of the carpet in a corner and pull it up from the underlying tack strips.

• 4

  Fold the carpet back on itself to expose the damaged subfloor. If there is carpet pad underneath, fold it back as well.

Repair Plywood Subfloors

• 5

  Put on safety glasses and cut out the damaged area of the subfloor with a circular saw. Extend the cuts over the nearest floor joist but do not cut through the joist. Set the saw depth to only 1/4-inch or the thickness of the plywood.

• 6

  Remove the damaged portion of the subfloor and measure the length and width of the hole.

• 7

  Draw an outline of the hole on a sheet of plywood with the tape measure and a pencil. Cut out the outline with the saw then place it into the floor opening so the edges rest on the floor joists.

• 8

  Insert 1-inch wood screws through the plywood over the locations of the joists to secure it in place.

• 9

  Fold the carpet pad and carpeting back into place and secure it into the tack strips by hand. Reattach the molding to the floor with finishing nails and a hammer.

Repair Concrete Subfloors

• 10

  Scrub any cracks or chips in the floor with a wire brush to detach any loose particles and smooth down any sharp broken edges.

• 11

  Vacuum up the concrete chips and dust with a shop vac to ensure the repair site is perfectly clean.

• 12

  Open a bag of powdered self-leveling compound and pour it into a 5-gallon bucket. Mix it with water, as instructed on the packaging, until it is smooth. The compound will be a thick liquid when properly mixed.

• 13

  Pour the self-leveling compound over the damaged subfloor until the depression or crack fills up. Do not spread the material since it evens out as it sets.

• 14

  Wait until the compound dries then sand it smooth with a hand grinder equipped with a coarse-grit sanding pad.

• 15

  Vacuum the area again then fold the carpet pad and carpet back into place. Press the carpet back into the tack strips firmly then reinstall the molding with finishing nails and a hammer.