Inspect Subfloors and Plan a Flooring Installation

A. Finished-Project Specification

Quantity: one defined inspection area, with one identified substrate, moisture-test results recorded at every representative test location, a flatness survey with marked high and low points, a documented hazard and legacy-material screening, a transition and finish-height review, and one completed Flooring-Readiness Plan bearing an approved, conditional, or rejected decision.

B. Flooring-Readiness Schedule

Item	Target Condition	Verification Method
Substrate identification	Existing substrate type correctly identified and does not change mid-project	Written record on plan
Moisture-source check	Roof, plumbing, exterior-wall, slab, crawlspace, and condensation sources identified	Visual inspection and written record
Moisture test	Specified test performed at every representative location within the manufacturer's acceptable range	Direct test reading with equipment and location recorded
Structural condition	No unaddressed loose panels, squeaks, deflection, cracks, spalling, or contamination	Visual and physical inspection
Flatness survey	Measured deviation within the manufacturer-specified tolerance, or deficiency marked for correction	Straightedge and feeler-gauge measurement
Legacy-material screen	Any suspect material identified and left undisturbed pending qualified screening	Visual inspection and written record
Transition and finish-height review	Doorway, stair, cabinet, and fixed-equipment conflicts identified	Measurement at each transition point

C. Material Takeoff

• Test consumables: calcium chloride test kit components and in-situ relative-humidity probes sufficient for the number of representative test locations required by the flooring manufacturer for the inspection area.
• Marking supplies: chalk or marking tape sufficient to flag every high spot, low area, test location, and suspect-material boundary.
• Documentation: one Flooring-Readiness Plan per inspection area, plus photographs of the substrate, test setup, damage, and any suspect material.
• Sample containment: disposable sample bags or containers, used only if a qualified hazardous-material professional directs sample collection.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Substrate identification	Correct substrate type identified and confirmed to match the defined inspection area
Moisture verification	Every representative test location within the manufacturer's acceptable moisture range for the candidate flooring product, or documented as a stop-work condition
Flatness verification	Measured deviation at every location within the manufacturer-specified tolerance, or marked as a deficiency for Chapter 4 correction
Structural condition	Every loose panel, squeak, crack, or contaminated area identified and recorded, with none left unaddressed on the plan
Hazard screening	Every suspect legacy material identified, left undisturbed, and documented with an assigned escalation
Transition review	Every doorway, stair, cabinet, and fixed-equipment finish-height conflict identified and recorded
Documentation	Flooring-Readiness Plan complete with substrate, moisture, flatness, hazard, and transition entries
Procedure	Substrate identification, moisture sourcing, testing, structural inspection, flatness survey, hazard screen, and transition review completed independently and in sequence

E. Documentation Review and Substrate Identification

1. Obtain the flooring plan, finish schedule, product requirements, substrate information, room use, and transition details. Note any information that identifies the existing substrate or flags a prior moisture or structural issue.
2. Identify the existing substrate as plywood, oriented-strand board, plank, concrete, underlayment panel, resilient flooring, tile, or another approved surface. State the identified substrate in writing before proceeding to Step 3.

F. Moisture Source and Environmental Inspection

1. Inspect the room for roof, plumbing, exterior-wall, slab, crawlspace, and condensation moisture sources. Record every source found, even if it does not appear to be actively leaking.
2. Record ambient temperature and relative humidity where required by the candidate flooring product. Use the thermometer and hygrometer at a representative location away from direct sun or drafts.

G. Moisture Testing

1. Perform the specified substrate moisture tests at representative locations. Use a pin or pinless meter for wood substrates, and a calcium chloride or in-situ relative-humidity test for concrete where specified by the flooring manufacturer.
2. Record test method, equipment, calibration status, locations, results, and product limits. Complete this record for every test location before moving to the next inspection step.

H. Structural and Surface Inspection

1. Inspect wood subfloors for loose panels, squeaks, deflection, delamination, swelling, edge ridges, damaged fasteners, unsupported seams, and rot. Record the location and extent of every condition found.
2. Inspect concrete for cracks, curling, spalling, laitance, contamination, adhesive residue, curing compounds, moisture, and elevation changes. Record the location and extent of every condition found.

I. Flatness Survey

1. Check floor flatness using the manufacturer-specified straightedge or measuring method. Place the straightedge across multiple directions of the inspection area.
2. Mark high spots and low areas. Use feeler gauges or graduated shims to record the measured deviation at each marked point.
3. Distinguish flatness from levelness. Record flatness deviations against the manufacturer's tolerance independent of whether the floor is pitched or sloped for drainage or design.

J. Transition, Finish-Height, and Hazard Screening

1. Inspect transitions to adjacent rooms, stairs, cabinets, doorways, exterior doors, and appliances. Measure and record the existing finished-floor height at each transition point.
2. Identify finished-floor height conflicts. Compare the existing height at each transition against the height that would result from each candidate flooring system.
3. Inspect for old resilient flooring, black adhesive, felt backing, or other materials that may require hazardous-material testing. Mark the location and extent of any suspect material without disturbing it.
4. Stop work before disturbing suspect materials. Escalate to a qualified hazardous-material professional per the Failure Points section before any further inspection step disturbs the suspect area.
5. Check door swing, jamb clearance, toilet or fixture interfaces, baseboard, floor drains, radiant heat, and expansion joints. Record each condition and its location on the plan.

K. Flooring Selection and Readiness Decision

1. Compare substrate conditions with each candidate flooring system. Check moisture results, flatness deviations, structural condition, and transition findings against the requirements of every flooring type under consideration.
2. Select the approved flooring type only after confirming moisture, flatness, deflection, use, and manufacturer compatibility. Do not select a flooring type that conflicts with any recorded finding.
3. Prepare a deficiency list with required structural, moisture, patching, underlayment, transition, and trade corrections. Assign each deficiency to the chapter or qualified trade responsible for correcting it.
4. Reinspect corrected conditions. Where a deficiency has already been corrected before this project closes out, repeat the relevant test or measurement to confirm the correction.
5. Issue an approved, conditional, or rejected flooring-readiness decision. Record the decision, the reasoning, and any conditions that must be satisfied before Chapter 2 work-area preparation begins.