Monday 06 September 2021
Subfloors are an important part of your floor because they help keep your floor level, provide extra stability, improve your energy efficiency and reduce noise in your home. Over time, subfloors can become damaged due to age, water or other significant floor damage. When this happens, you need to replace your underlay to prevent further damage.
The cost of replacing an underlay is between €500 and €2,500. Most homeowners pay around €1,500 for a kitchen or living room. Prices start from €150 to replace a small section in a bedroom with plywood, up to €3,000 to replace the subfloor in the entire basement with high-quality subfloor panels.
Cost of redoing underlay
Price to replace underlay
Average cost €1,500
Average range €500-€2,500
Minimum cost € 150
Maximum cost €3,000
The cost of replacing your underlay depends largely on the square footage of the area. On average you can expect to pay between €5 and €25 per square foot to replace the subfloor in your home. The price you pay depends on where the subfloor is located, the materials used and whether or not the floor fitter installs the floor around walls.
Below are some common sizes of subfloors that may need to be replaced and their average replacement cost. It is possible to replace smaller subfloors, but this is often done at a fixed rate.
Subfloor size Cost to replace subfloor (including labour)
50 square metres €500 - €2,000
100 square metres €900 - €3,600
200 square metres €1,800 - €7,200
500+ square metres €4,500 - €20,000
When determining the cost of reinstalling the subfloor, another important factor affecting the cost is the material used. Although prices differ for each type of material, so do the properties. When deciding which to choose, it is important to consider the characteristics and price. Below are the most common types of underlay material and the average cost you can expect per square foot.
Subfloor material Cost per square metre (Labour included)
High-grade subfloor panels € 10 - € 30
OSB € 15 - € 25
Plywood € 15 - € 30
Concrete € 18 - € 36
Replacing your underlay with high-quality underlay panels costs € 12 - € 35 per square metre. This type of material is similar to OSB, but is manufactured with greater precision using resin technology. This process provides extra protection, a better balance of stiffness and more stability. This option provides more stable floors with greater water resistance than OSB and costs only slightly more than plywood. There are several options available when choosing high-quality subfloor panels.
The cost of replacing your subfloor with OSB is between €12 and €24 per square metre. Oriented strand board is the cheapest option for subfloors and works in the same way as plywood. You can buy it in heavy, thick panels that can be as strong as plywood. The main disadvantage of OSB is that it swells with water, causing it to warp if your floor has water damage.
The cost of installing plywood subfloors is between €14 and €30 per square metre. Plywood has been the most commonly used subfloor material since the 1950s. Most builders choose a ¾ tongue-and-groove wood that interlocks and creates a firmer, stiffer floor. Plywood can be glued, nailed or screwed to secure it, making it versatile for any installation.
If you want to replace your subfloor with a concrete slab, the rates are between €18 and €36 per square metre. A concrete sub floor is a popular option when you are looking for a hard and extremely durable sub floor. With a concrete sub-floor you can directly lay tile and stone floors, but for other types like hardwood, carpet or laminate you always need a sub-floor. Because concrete floors are more sensitive to water, a moisture barrier is also recommended. Concrete also has some other disadvantages, such as the fact that it is cold and does not give much. It is also almost impossible to nail anything into it and requires a more complicated installation for certain types of floors.