How To Fix Kitchen Floor? [Ways And Tips]

The kitchen is one of the house’s most heat and moisture-exposed areas. Due to such extreme conditions, the flooring often gets heavily affected. Though the damages are primarily visible, water damage and heat often cause the subfloor to crack. A soft spot is noticed. In such a condition, it is essential to know how to fix the kitchen floor. 

Fixing the floor seems like a lot. However, the correct procedure can make the task easy. Be it a soft spot or a damaged subfloor, replacing the damaged part is the solution. So here you go!

Let’s see how you can replace and fix a damaged kitchen flooring in some easy steps. Stay with me to get fantastic tips on maintaining the floor and clarify your queries. 

7 Steps To Fix Kitchen Floor: Do It Like A DIYer

Replacing the subfloor is the easiest fix for the kitchen. Typically, water damage occurs because water has leaked and swollen the subfloor and floor above it. This makes the area soft, which is not repairable. It has to be replaced. Here I take you through the most straightforward process. 

Step 1: Identify The Exact Problem

If there is a soft spot, that is definitely because of water damage. Here you must follow the article’s next steps. 

You can cut through the cracked floor and remove a portion of it. Measure a flooring material of the same type and install it on the area. Fix it well and seal the floor. 

You must clean the floor thoroughly with a vinegar mixer and scrub for dirty and stinky kitchen floors. Rub simply and rinse it off. 

Step 2: Prepare The Floor

Before removing the flooring, there are a few things to do. As you are about to release the flooring, you must remove the baseboards first. Use a prayer to remove the bottom portion of the baseboard gently. 

In case the damage has spread under the cabinets, you may need to unscrew the cabinet doors. The floor has to be ready to be removed. For that, clearing the space is mandatory. 

Step 2: Pry Up The Floor

Be the flooring is of tile plywood or other materials, you first need to remove it. To fix the subfloor beneath it, removing the upper floor is required. You must pluck up the nails if the flooring is attached to a tack strip. Only then would the flooring come off. 

If the flooring is attached with adhesive, you first need to cut open one-floor section. Cut open a wooden floor with a circular saw making a ¾ inches deep cut.  Do the same in the case of tile flooring. Wear a face mask for safety. Once cut open, pry each floor section carefully until the subfloor is completely exposed. 

Step 3: Locate Joists

Locating the joists is important before replacing the subfloor. If you accidentally cut the beams on which the subfloor lies, the subfloor would be fragile. You would also need to see the condition of the joist. In case they are vulnerable, reinforcement is mandatory. 

For this step, find a soft spot on the subfloor and hit it hard to make a hole. Use a pry bar to remove some of the damaged portions around the hole. Now insert a torch to locate the first joist.

Dig it wider to find the adjacent joist. Measure the distance between these two. As per this measurement, you can now know how many joists are there and where they are located. 

Step 4: Remove The Subfloor

Put marks on the subfloor where you assume the joists to be. Next, use a jigsaw or circular saw to trim the subfloor. Make several cuts avoiding the portion of the joists. Along with the corners, use a square to make the cut precise. Lastly, remove each section of the subfloor with a pry bar. Once the joists are exposed, it is time to examine them. 

Step 5: Reinforce The Joists

Look for any fragile or damaged joist. If they are weak, you must replace the joists. An expert can help you with that. But if you see that only some parts of the joists are damaged, reinforcement would suffice. 

Thick 2-inch boards are the best for reinforcement. Just across the length of the joist, nail the thick boards to strengthen the joist. Nail at the center and on both sides for better protection.

Adding thick blocks between the beams is another way of reinforcing the foundation. Nail thick wooden panels between the beams and create a strong foundation. 

Step 6: Measure And Install The Subfloor

As the beams get ready, measure the number of subfloor panels you need. Buy plywoods or particleboards as per the measurement. Then trim the boards for easy installation. 

Apply a suitable adhesive on the beams evenly. Then lay the subfloor panels on the joists. To strengthen the bond, nail the plywood panels to the beams every 8 inches. This way, cover the whole kitchen area and install the subfloor. 

Step 7: Install The Floor

Now that the subfloor is installed, clean the surface once to ensure a smooth finish. As the subfloor is currently intact, reinstall the kitchen flooring on the sturdy and new subfloor. Adhere or nail the flooring, whichever you prefer. After installation, make sure to seal the floor well for moisture protection. 

3 Things You Should Avoid When Fixing Kitchen Floor

A few mistakes can make the process messy. Fixing the kitchen flooring requires precision and accuracy. Here are a few things to avoid. Have a look to get a clear thought to prevent further damage. 

1. Don’t Damage Joists

Cutting through the beams or joists is a common mistake people make. Joists are the foundation of the floor and the subfloor. So if you cut through it, you are damaging the base. Thus first, measure the distances between the beams and cut through the subfloor to avoid damaging the joists.

2. Careful Of The Pipes

Often, water pipes, as well as gas pipes, are fixed beneath the subfloor. Cables are also kept hidden under it. If you accidentally cut any of these, it may cause a fuss and even an accident. Before removing the subfloor, knock on it to locate the areas where the pipes are located. Then cut the floor accordingly. 

3. Don’t Just Cover The Surface Without Fixing

For instance, you have seen a soft spot on the kitchen surface. Now you have decided to change the flooring only or just to replace the damaged part. That won’t work as the damage beneath remains. Just covering the damage is never the solution. You have to fix the subfloor and then install the floor. 

5 Tips For Maintaining Your Floor To Eliminate Fixing Issues

Maintenance is essential to prevent issues with the floor. If you maintain a few things, you can easily avoid the common flooring issues in the kitchen. Here are a few tips for keeping the floor and avoiding repeated fixing.

Tip 1: Wipe Spills Immediately

Liquid spills can penetrate the flooring and settle in the subfloor causing long-term problems. Please be careful about the spills while cooking or working in the kitchen. If you see any, wipe it off from the floor immediately. 

Tip 2: Clean The Floor Regularly

Apart from spills, regular moisture and heat can affect the floor. If you let the moisture settle, it would eventually ruin the floor. Therefore, after finishing your work in the kitchen, mop the floor thoroughly and let it dry. This would remove any excess moisture. 

Tip 3: Check For Leaks

Most of the time, internal pipe leaks cause the subfloor to warp. Extreme water force and poor maintenance can cause pipe leaks that destroy the floor. Therefore, once a month, check the condition of the pipes. In case of leaks, repair them.

Tip 4: Seal The Floor

Sealing the floor is one of the best ways to avoid floor issues. Sealing makes the floor more moisture-resistant and sturdy. Be it tile or hardwood, consider sealing the floor once a year. It would protect the entire flooring from severe issues. 

Tip 5: Use Sink Mats

Sink mats are placed near the sink. You may use them in the doorway and near the stove in the kitchen too. Its purpose is to keep water away from the floor. These mats protect water-concentrated places. 

Related Questions:

How Do You Fix Your Kitchen Floor?

To fix the kitchen flooring, you must examine the soft spot. If the damage is minor, you may remove the damaged portion and replace it. However, if the water leak and damage spreads beneath the floor, you would need to replace the flooring. 

For that, remove the flooring carefully. Cut through the subfloor avoiding the joists. Remove the subfloor. Strengthen the joists for a strong base. Then install a new subfloor on the beams. Make sure to clean the leaks and the subfloor before reinstalling the floor. 

Is It Easy To Fix The Kitchen Floor?

Fixing the floor issues is not a simple task. It is time-consuming as well as a complicated task. The essential parts are removing the upper floor, stripping off the subfloor, and rebuilding the beams. Then comes the part of replacing the subfloor and reinstalling the floor. 

These activities require precision and concentration. Moreover, a basic idea about cutting the floor is needed. It may be easier for someone who has that. But without the bare minimum experience, the task would be difficult. 

How Can You Replace Your Kitchen Floor Without Removing Cabinets?

In case removing the cabinets is not your option, you can still fix the floor. You would need a jigsaw or circular saw for this task. Just go close to the cabinet. Run the saw to cut through the floor at the cabinet door’s edge. Don’t go deeper than ¾ inches. 

Use a pry bar to strip off the tile or hardwood plank as you cut the floor. In this way, you won’t need to remove the cabinet. However, if the cabinet floor is damaged too, you must replace the floor under the cabinet too. 

How Much Does It Cost To Fix The Kitchen Floor Completely?

If you want to repair the entire kitchen flooring, it may cost between $6000 to $10,000. This range covers everything from replacing the joists to changing the subfloor. If you divide the cost, the primary upper floor replacement and repairing would cost approximately $500. 

For replacing the joists, the cost is as high as $6000. Subfloor replacement costs around $1000. However, the cost would vary as per the flooring type and the severity of the damage. 

How Do You Fix Small Chips In The Kitchen Floor Tile?

Chipping is a common issue in floor tiles but is also easy to cure. To fix the tile’s chips, apply a bit of epoxy to the chipped area with a toothpick. Blend a bit to make the surface smooth. For a better outcome, sanding the floor is suggested to get a plain surface. 

After sanding, apply a covering paint to eliminate the sanded effect on the surface. Make sure to choose a paint similar to the tile’s color. Finally, seal the floor. 

Final Verdict:

Replacing a kitchen flooring requires you to follow the steps I have mentioned. Be sure about your control over the task. If you are not confident enough, consult an expert. But most importantly, maintain the floor to avoid any significant issues. 

Using the tips and processes in this article, fix the flooring of your kitchen as soon as possible.