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Leveling the Floor and Installing the Subfloor

Bob meets lead carpenter Connor McKenna from Thorough Construction, who is working with the original floor joists in preparation for the hardwood floors. Bob remarks again on the hig-quality craftmanship of the original builders, but notes that the floor joists have been chopped up and hacked through for wiring, plumbing, or gas jobs over the years. McKenna explains that sistering the joists, or applying additional lumber to strengthen the existing timbers, will create a sturdy base and allow them to recreate a level floor. A laser level is used to project a level line throughout the apartment that will be followed for leveling all the new floors. McKenna applies panel adhesive to the tops of the new, sistered joists before laying four-by-eight sheets of Georgia-Pacific Plytanium Sturdifloor on top. This is a tongue-and-groove subfloor that is strong enough to serve as the only layer under hardwood flooring. Once affixed and locked in place, the Plytanium is nailed to the joists with traditional deck screws, never drywall screws, to create a stronger, better, quieter installation for the hardwood floors that will follow.
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Leveling the Floor and Installing the Subfloor

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Maintenance and -- caught Connor hi Connor how are -- So we are at -- point -- were kind of reworking this weather nice job with the demolition there's really nothing left here no plaster dust to speak the demo contractor cleaned it out what our guys gave it a final cleaning because very important that lets you know that these bays are really clean yeah it's a good idea get all the debris out of here. All right thanks RD us in event world. -- there's a lot of new lumber that's gone in here. Now we were just looking at the that if the framing above which is immaculate and you know it's beautiful work. And here again you've got the same kind of old timbers but they've been hacked it. Thank you see right here. And there's a lot of damage that was inflicted probably. Maybe plumbers maybe gas pipe headers and -- engineers what cards to run pipes and different things so -- on this I don't. -- to that level the floor and also stunts on the floor to when you say sister. That's essentially when you sister honor add another timber to an existing one. And you therefore level the top of it off and strengthen the timber itself yes yeah. -- Here you've taken a two by six and you're -- you're using construction adhesive to applied to the existing piece and then you're also. All right now let's talk about leveling is what you're using is a laser level over here right yes and how does this work. Well it is -- the south -- evening when this comes. -- across the fighters -- bench mark we have -- just fighters fought off the front door. OK so you've established a level line around the whole apartment -- the owner provenance of these would be benchmarks yes that you got at various intervals so anywhere you go in the apartment you can measure down from that -- bands -- laying a slab and all of -- anybody. Us. Out this is strong stuff they they call it. Georgia Pacific plytanium it's dirty floor. And this is a product that's done is tongued and grooved four by eight sheet. Can be used as underlayment in any situation and the beauty of it is that you really only need one layer for hardwood floor installations which it will we're gonna do here and or for anything simpler like wall to wall carpeting her or vinyl floors or whatever that is good sturdy stuff. And so fellas you got them all now precut and ready to go. So let's talk about how how you do it are you are you putting the panel adhesive on first -- and here it is. So that goes. Along the tops of than newly added sisters. And these. Products are incredibly strong glues that. Not only helps for a better. Installation but makes for a quieter installation that's one thing you always want to avoid when you're putting down. Hardwood floors. Is the potential for movement which causes squeaks. And this is one way of avoiding it. Now the screws that you use. For fastening are not drywall screw right I would screws -- going to make that distinction. Is that you spirited good grip. Enough. On this plywood. Connor how close together are you gonna. Why the screws every six instances. All right that looks pretty darn good. And as I say -- that makes her real solid floor thanks fellas."

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