What Are Sleepers In Flooring

Attach with nails or staples 12 o c.

What are sleepers in flooring.

Or as specified by the flooring manufacturer. Sleepers are placed between the deck surface and the ground or slab below it. Headroom especially in a basement may be at a premium. Moisture can cause floors to warp and provide a breeding ground for mold.

Cure the moisture problem before you install the floor. Nail the finished flooring to the sleepers through the film. Either line them up directly over the joists that lie beneath the subfloor or run them perpendicular to the joists. A set of sleepers supports the decking and allows moisture and air to flow below it.

Most basements have concrete floors which have the potential to draw moisture. Install plywood over sleepers at 90 degree angle to direction of finished flooring 1 4 spacing all edges and breaking joints 4. To make low flooring framing that will conserve headroom lay pressure treated 2x4s sleepers flat and cover them with 3 4 inch tongue and groove osb underlayment or exterior plywood. Or as demonstrated here you can cover the slab with rigid foam insulation add two layers of plywood and then add the finish flooring.

You can also use sleepers on a wooden floor frame. Measure and cut the sleepers as you would for a concrete floor but position the sleepers in one of two ways. Acclimation when the site is prepared the flooring can be delivered and stored in each room where it will be installed. Avoid a sleeper layout where the boards are parallel to the joists.

Subfloor sleeper are used in basements to protect certain types of flooring such as laminate hardwood and carpet. You can attach wood sleepers to the floor fill the gaps with rigid foam insulation and then apply your finish flooring. Decking laid directly over packed soil will rot quickly and wood laid over concrete rots as well when moisture is trapped between the two materials.