The flooring fails you see in Atlanta homes almost always trace back to a subfloor that wasn't properly prepared.
We've torn out brand-new flooring — less than two years old — because the installer skipped subfloor preparation. It's one of the most costly shortcuts in residential remodeling.
Flatness Standard: Most flooring manufacturers require 3/16" over 10 feet for floating floors, and 1/8" over 6 feet for tile. Even small deviations cause cracking grout, hollow spots, and clicking LVP.
Moisture Testing: In Atlanta, moisture testing is non-negotiable — especially on slabs. Related: Water Damage Restoration: When to Call a Pro vs. DIY.
Squeaks: Screwing down the subfloor before installation silences squeaks permanently. Any squeak you live with going into a flooring project is a squeak you'll live with for the life of the floor.
Full scope timing fits in weeks 6–9 of the renovation calendar in What to Expect During a Full Home Remodel: A Week-by-Week Guide.
Bottom Line
The subfloor is invisible after installation, which makes it easy to skip preparation steps — and expensive to fix later. Take the time and budget to flatten, dry, and secure the subfloor before any flooring goes down. Every quality flooring failure we've been called in to fix traces back to something that should have been caught at this stage.
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