close
Skip to content

Competencies covered

MSFFL2001: Use flooring technology sector hand and power tools

Subfloor preparation


Image for slide 1
Audio for slide 1 (mp3 |6|KB)
Before you can lay a floor covering, you need to make sure the subfloor is flat, smooth and sound.

Depending on the state of the subfloor and the materials it is made of, you might decide to 'build up' the surface with a cement or wood-based underlay, or 'go down' by removing existing layers of material until you achieve a suitable surface finish.

hearing icon
Image for slide 2
Audio for slide 2 (mp3 |6|KB)
In some cases, you may have to do both, especially if you're working on an old concrete slab.

That is, you'll probably remove the surface layers with a grinder and then apply a cement-based smoothing or levelling compound with a trowel to form an 'underlayment'.

hearing icon
Image for slide 3
Audio for slide 3 (mp3 |6|KB)

Below are the main hand and power tools used to prepare concrete and timber subfloors.

For more information on how to use these tools, and for details on wheeled machines such as concrete grinders and heavy floor sanders, see the following two units:

hearing icon
Image for slide 4
Audio for slide 4 (mp3 |6|KB)

Checking levels

Laser level                                                                                                               
For checking levels and flatness in floor surfaces.

hearing icon
Image for slide 5
Audio for slide 5 (mp3 |6|KB)
Spirit level                                                                                                               
An alternative to the laser level.

hearing icon
Image for slide 6
Audio for slide 6 (mp3 |6|KB)

Removing material

Angle grinder                                                                                                               
For cutting masonry and steel, and for grinding concrete by hand.

hearing icon
Image for slide 7
Audio for slide 7 (mp3 |6|KB)
Belt sander                                                                                                                
For sanding back timber floor boards and wood-based panels.

hearing icon
Image for slide 8
Audio for slide 8 (mp3 |6|KB)
Orbital sander                                                                                                                
For use when a belt sander is too awkward, such as around edges and doorways.

hearing icon
Image for slide 9
Audio for slide 9 (mp3 |6|KB)
Floor scraper                                                                                                                
For removing blobs of cornice plaster and other dags on the floor surface.

hearing icon
Image for slide 10
Audio for slide 10 (mp3 |6|KB)
Skutch hammer                                                                                                                
For chipping away tiles, mortar and plaster from masonry walls and floors.

hearing icon
Image for slide 11
Audio for slide 11 (mp3 |6|KB)
Lump hammer and bolster                                                                                                               
For removing blobs of concrete and chipping masonry.

hearing icon
Image for slide 12
Audio for slide 12 (mp3 |6|KB)
Pinch bar                                                                                                                
For removing floor boards and hard sheet materials that are nailed or glued down.

hearing icon
Image for slide 13
Audio for slide 13 (mp3 |6|KB)
Concrete grinder                                                                                                                
For grinding concrete with rotating abrasive discs.

hearing icon
Image for slide 14
Audio for slide 14 (mp3 |6|KB)
High pressure water                                                                                                                
For removing surface contaminants and dust.

hearing icon
Image for slide 15
Audio for slide 15 (mp3 |6|KB)

Applying moisture membranes

Paint brush and roller                                                                                                                
For applying a liquid moisture membrane to a subfloor.

hearing icon
Image for slide 16
Audio for slide 16 (mp3 |6|KB)
Backpack sprayer                                                                                                                
An alternative method for applying a liquid moisture membrane to a subfloor.

hearing icon
Image for slide 17
Audio for slide 17 (mp3 |6|KB)

Patching and levelling with cement-based compounds

Masonry trowel and putty knife                                                                                                                
For applying patching compounds to voids in the subfloor.

hearing icon
Image for slide 18
Audio for slide 18 (mp3 |6|KB)
Smoothing trowels                                                                                                                
For spreading leveling compounds in a kneeling position.

hearing icon
Image for slide 19
Audio for slide 19 (mp3 |6|KB)
Thickness spreader                                                                                                                
For spreading leveling compounds in a standing position.

hearing icon
Image for slide 20
Audio for slide 20 (mp3 |6|KB)
Smoother                                                                                                                
Used to touch up the underlayment and achieve a feather edge.

hearing icon
Image for slide 21
Audio for slide 21 (mp3 |6|KB)
Spiked roller                                                                                                                
Used to 'de-aerate' (remove air bubbles) from the leveling compound.

hearing icon
Image for slide 22
Audio for slide 22 (mp3 |6|KB)
Screed bar                                                                                                                
Used to spread fresh concrete and achieve a surface ready for trowelling.

hearing icon
Image for slide 23
Audio for slide 23 (mp3 |6|KB)
Spiked shoes                                                                                                                
For wearing while pouring and spreading wet leveling compound.

hearing icon
Image for slide 24
Audio for slide 24 (mp3 |6|KB)
Mixing paddle and heavy-duty drill                                                                                                                
For mechanically mixing levelling compounds.

hearing icon
Image for slide 25
Audio for slide 25 (mp3 |6|KB)
Mixing and cleaning buckets                                                                                                                
For mixing compounds and for cleaning up.

hearing icon
Image for slide 26
Audio for slide 26 (mp3 |6|KB)

Laying hard underlays

Jigsaw                                                                                                                
For cutting and shaping underlay sheets to fit around doorways and other profiled shapes.

hearing icon
Image for slide 27
Audio for slide 27 (mp3 |6|KB)
Circular saw                                                                                                                
For cutting straight lines in underlay sheets and for cross-cutting timber.

hearing icon
Image for slide 28
Audio for slide 28 (mp3 |6|KB)
Staple gun                                                                                                                
For fixing underlay into position on a timber subfloor.

hearing icon
Image for slide 29
Audio for slide 29 (mp3 |6|KB)
Spotnailer                                                                                                                
Used like a staple gun, but driven by a mallet rather than compressed air.

hearing icon
Image for slide 30
Audio for slide 30 (mp3 |6|KB)
Handsaw                                                                                                                
Used when a power saw or jig saw is too awkward or unnecessary.

hearing icon


Learning activity

Audio 31 (mp3 |6|KB)

Choose one type of subfloor preparation you've been involved in and list all the tools that were used in that job.

Write down the following information:

  • type of subfloor and materials used in the substrate (e.g. particleboard flooring on timber floor joists, concrete slab on the ground, etc.)

  • hand and power tools used by you and the other members of your team to prepare the substrate up to the stage of laying the floor covering

  • brief description of what each tool was used for.

Include all the general hand-held tools that were needed, as well as any specialised tools. Your list may end up including a lot more items than those we've covered in the above two lessons. For example, you may also have used a nail punch, pliers, cold chisel or hand plane.

If you haven't been involved in a subfloor preparation before, choose a particular type of subfloor and list all the tools that you think would be required to prepare it.

hearing icon