Should you be worried if your bathroom floor starts creaking or sagging each time you take a step? You definitely should. Most homes in Federal Way are standard Americana—meaning light materials and wood frames in the walls and under the floors. Wood can rot over time, especially in the moisture-prone bathroom environment.
Now, there’s no need to panic. Here’s a comprehensive guide to soft bathroom floor repair Federal Way residents need to know.
Why Is Your Bathroom Floor Getting Soft?
Most homes in Federal Way have bathrooms that feature plywood subfloors and wood joists. Wood, as we all know, is a highly water-absorbent material. Meanwhile, the bathroom is perhaps the wettest part of the house. When the bathroom floor inevitably gets wet, the water can seep into the wood underlayer, eventually causing a host of moisture-related problems, which mainly include the following:
- Rot and structural issues. Your bathroom floor’s wood supports can be very soft and brittle when waterlogged. This would cause it to buckle under the user’s weight. As it can’t handle as much stress as when it was dry, it may be damaged even with careful, regular use.
- Mold and fungal growth. Molds and fungi love damp, dark spaces. They can grow well under the wood’s surface, breaking down the material and softening it.
- Insect infestation. Insects can thrive in relatively safe areas with easy access to water, like your bathroom’s soaked wood subfloor. Most insects simply burrow through the softened wood, causing only minor damage. Termites, which are attracted to damp wood, can wreak havoc not only in your bathroom but also in the rest of your house.
Of course, water may not be the only reason your floor feels soft or bouncy. There are other reasons, including the following:
- Damaged floor joists. The supporting frame under your floor can get damaged from age and constant use. In any case, the joists may sustain physical damage, and the joints may loosen, making your floor feel soft.
- Improper construction. The joists may have been incorrectly built from the get-go. The connections may be loose or improperly spaced, resulting in the characteristic bounciness.
- Inadequate support. Without sufficient support from beams and foundational walls, your floor can easily bend under pressure, giving it a soft feel.
Soft Bathroom Floor Repair for Federal Way Homes
Before you hire a bathroom contractor or start any repairs on your own, you need to determine whether the issue is caused by water damage. Look out for the following signs:
- Damage to the paint and the wall. The floor’s plywood sublayer can only hold so much moisture, and the excess water tends to travel to the walls. It can move through the paint, causing peeling, and into the drywall, causing water damage that goes beyond the floor.
- Musty odor. Moisture promotes microbial growth in wood, and microbes release microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) that cause the musty or mold-like smell.
- Persistent fungal or mold growth. Fungi and mold can thrive in water-damaged bathroom floors. The area provides ideal conditions for them to keep regrowing despite all your efforts to remove them.
If you have, indeed, confirmed that water damage caused your floor to feel like a sponge, don’t proceed immediately with soft bathroom floor repair. Federal Way homes can be susceptible to further damage, so you’ll have to follow these steps:
1. Check for mold growth.
Mold growth is a common result of water damage. It may appear as odd or patterned stains on the walls, and may smell musty. You can kill mold with a mild mixture composed of one cup of bleach per gallon of water. However, it can be very invasive and challenging to get rid of on your own, so your best bet in case of extensive mold growth is to hire a mold remediation professional.
2. Prepare the area.
With the mold out of the picture, you may start preparing the bathroom for floor repair. Start by shutting off the valves to prevent further damage from running water. Next, remove the vanity and fixtures such as the bathtub. You may need to disassemble the furniture for complete removal.
3. Repair the affected drywall.
If the water damage extends to the drywall, you have to start working on it before dealing with the floor. Gently press the part around any water stain, and make a large rectangular cut at least 12” above the extent of the soft, mushy parts. Use a fan or blower to dry the cavity completely. If there is mold, kill it using a diluted bleach solution.
Once the cavity is completely dry, install backing strips in the wall, then cut and screw new drywall to fill the gap. Fix it in place with joint tape and multiple thin layers of joint compound. When the compound dries, sand the area, prime with a protective primer, and apply paint to the wall.
4. Repair the bathroom floor.
Start the actual floor repair by demolishing the existing floor, including the plywood sublayer. Be sure to take out the debris and protruding screws and nails right after. If the joists show severe water damage, you will have to saw them all off and replace them entirely. For minor damage, you can simply cut out the affected areas, sistering a piece of new wood into the gap. Replace the sublayer with a fresh sheet of plywood after you’ve fixed the underlying frame.
Repairing floor softness caused by mechanical issues requires a different process. As with water-damaged frames, you will need to cut out the compromised joists and patch the minor flaws. Meanwhile, improperly constructed joists may only need realignment and reinforcement. If the problem only lies with the subfloor, you may simply need to tighten loose screws or add another layer of plywood for stability.
That said, this step requires precise carpentry skills. If you don’t find yourself cut for the job, don’t hesitate to get help from a bathroom repair professional.
5. Finish the floor.
With everything in order, you can now add your desired finish to the floor. Before that, though, be sure to prepare the subfloor by cleaning it thoroughly and leveling it with a self-leveling underlayment (SLU). With the floor dry and leveled, install a water-resistant cement board or uncoupling membrane for waterproofing and as a stable base for your finish.
5. Put the fixtures back in place
With your floor finished and completely cured, you may now return all the furniture and fixtures you’ve taken out to facilitate the repair. You may also use this moment to rethink your bathroom layout.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Weak Floor?
It’s more convenient to get a contractor to fix your soft bathroom floor if you have the money to spare. The national average for bathroom floor repair is $5,500, based on a range of $1,000 to $8,500. The actual cost depends on the extent of the floor damage and, thus, the amount of work needed.
Conclusion
When it comes to soft bathroom floor repair, Federal Way homeowners need not delay. When ignored, the problem can snowball into an irreparable mess that causes avoidable injuries and compromises the integrity of your home. It’s something that you can repair on your own but, when in doubt, it pays to hire a bathroom repair specialist.
