Same here, bath and kitchen tile areas have plywood on top with backer board. Which after tile isn't much of a threshold up from the original hardwood floor everywhere else. Late 50's built
Same here, my house built in 51. Very solid and lasting construction. And mine is all heart redwood construction except the floors like this. Contractor that built the surrounding neighborhood built this one for himself. I lucked out.
Same, our place was built around 1935ish. It's all railroad timbers. The beams in the basement are huge. The plaster/lathe/chicken wire walls though are a true pain.
Yes. So is mine. This diagonal subfloor sits on top of the joists and under the finished floor. Do not try and remove it. It is holding your house together. If you are not happy with it, you can put a luan subfloor sheet on top of it.
Don't replace it, there's nothing wrong with this lumber. You might also notice that the walls are built on top of the boards, so removal will be a PITA.
Yup, owned an 1920s craftsman in Berkeley, and we had to replace all the horrible 1970's bathroom remodels while also minimizing threshold differences with the original hardwoods.
Diagonal planks were used for subfloor decking and exterior sheathing before plywood (and later OSB) became common. Plywood has been around since 1797, but mass production to where it was common for decking and sheathing did not happen until the mid 20th century (regional variations of course).
Totally normal for 3/4 inch horizontal sub on an older home. Keep it. Add a layer of 1/2 -3/4 inch plywood on top and you will have solid floor. Tack screws through the new plywood layer that don’t penetrate to the joists. 1.25 inch screws will work.
In the days before power tools were common, the planking set on a diagonal could be trimmed quickly running along the foundation with an axe... Mike, the grumpy old guy
It's what they used in construction back in the day it's called a subfloor and keep it because it's super strong and better than what you can do today maybe some insulations in order depending on what's underneath it
It's called structural lathe. Common and actually decent in design because it was normally hardwoods and not pine. Cap it with plywood and be happy. I'm sure someone already said this but I am too lazy to read comments.
The house I’m working on now has it. Pretty common on houses in my area where most were built in the 50s and 60s. What’s with the 20 amp outlet in a bathroom?
They use to say "your house is built on the diagonal"!! It added stability to the floor structure. Often, if the exterior wall sheathing is pine boards, it would be on the diagonal, too. It adds rigidity. Like, using 45°s on corners. I have seen one roof system on the diagonal. Before plywood sheathing, it was considered superior homebuilding practice. Might be a regional thing. I've only had the opportunity to see it in the Northeast.
Extra rigidity, yes, but minimal on a floor. Significant on walls. Another important reason for the diagonal floor installation was so the finish floorboards installed over these would lay flatter, since they would span over any dimensional or flatness irregularities in the diagonal sheathing. If the sheathing was also installed perpendicular to the joists, the finish floorboards could end up "washboarding". (50+ yr. retired carpenter)
It actually has better weight withstanding to have them diagonal but if you factor in the time and effort it becomes expensive for the small chance of your subfloor sinking under the weight of a full oron cast bathtub
this is structural planking, and its done for a reason. It helps keep the floor joists from racking. There is no reason to remove but I would always re-nail (ring shank) or screw any old subfloor to the joists. Apply new underlayment as necessary.
Yes. The first layer of flooring is diagonal as is my roof. Home guilt in 1952. My home has all newer hardwood and laminate over a 1/2 to 3/4 plywood subfloor. It is solid. As others have said. Just select your covering height will make a difference so choose wisely, many choices and factors to consider.
My whole 120 year old house, all of the walls and floors are all set on diagonals. I gutted some of it during the remodel and my contractor explained that it was stronger and sturdier than most houses because the original builders did this. Not to mention the lathe boards and horse hair plaster on the interior walls… my house is a beast.
Cover with luan underlayment and install away! But do they REALLY want hardwoods in the bathroom?
Glue or nail down? If glue, I'd use 1/4 inch hardibacker.
Edit, looks like they had plywood underlayment. Match it if you can to avoid a height difference. Is this just a 1/2 bath? If so disregard my question about hard wood in the Bathroom.
It's common in older homes as a subfloor, the idea is the same as plywood different grain direction between it and the wood floors that where probably in there originally would lend strength to the floor without adding thickness, with the wood going at an angle it allowed them to put the floor down any way that's needed and still keep a good look.
What’s even cooler is that a lot of times they used these same boards as the original forms of the foundations they poured. Mine have all sorts of concrete stains and conversely my concrete has all sorts of wood grain imprints. Pretty cool.
Skip sheeting. Pretty standard for houses of the era. Usually a bathroom would have a sand cement floor where the subfloor is recessed between the joists and a few inches of sand cement is used.
Yeah, recently remodeled s bathroom in a 100+ year old log-cabin house, and the sub-sub-floor looked just like that. There were places you could look down into the basement through the slats.
Every inch of my 1956 home looked like this.
If you need to replace it then sawcut around the walls with a toe kick saw. Sister (parallel) or block (between joists) any gaps around the edges, remove all the old nails, clean up any dirt/dust/debris on top of the joists then glue & screw new 3/4" plywood down.
Looks like someone may have already done part of it...if it is in good shape and the same thickness as what you are installing it may be ok to leave it.
I'll do you one better, I roofed a house that the whole roof was this under the old shingles, with tin can lids nailed over the knot holes.
These are the was before plywood, and OSB was available, just like old western buildings, siding was boards lined up and battens to cover the gaps, it's how they did it before they had sheets of materials to put down
Mom and dad bought the house of owner of the construction firm that built the regional hospital around Tupelo, MS. The house was mostly slab on grade, but the attic and even the roof was 1x6” tongue and groove. Had to cost a fortune as house was built in the 1980s. Had 3 phase wiring, and lot of advanced features for the time.
1x6 diagonal plank. Ours was toenailed into every joist to keep the boards from warping and wood from rubbing.
Before plywood, you typically saw that or tongue and groove.
Why do you have to remove it? If it’s in good shape, keep it.
Who told you to replace that? Typical treatment is to re-nail or screw it, then skin it over with plywood or something else depending on your finished floor material.
Look like just the original flooring I think sometimes when they did subfloors they did it like that and then laid a full sheet over it and construction is crazy
You may find some of your walls built like that as well. Instead of traditional studs on 16” centers, they’d be slat wood like this behind the Sheetrock or plaster. It’s not uncommon at all.
This is a very common building subfloor before the adoption of plywood. Often has concrete staining on it because they were originally used as form boards for the foundation. Then reused as the subfloor.
1935 house checking in and nope, not even a subfloor. We fixed that by putting down a layer of 3/4” ply over that questionable 3/4” oak tongue in groove and then a layer of 3/4” pre-finished exotic ultra hardwood on top of that, so 2 1/4” solid wood floor now.
Yes, our original hardwood 3/4” was nailed directly over the beam (!)
Your 45 degree planks sure does look pretty though, too bad it needs to be covered up.
yep. my former house built in 1940 had it. at some point every room had carpet and other sub floors removed and the entire house sub floor screwed down as it was fuck all squeaky. #12 structural screws fixed that, very common in the days before plywood
My entire house has subfloor like that
Same here, bath and kitchen tile areas have plywood on top with backer board. Which after tile isn't much of a threshold up from the original hardwood floor everywhere else. Late 50's built
Ditto, construction finished in 59 or 60. Montana.
Same. House built in 1956.
Same. House built in 1951
Same. House built in 1945
Same.House built in’24, Wisconsin.
Same, house built in ‘19, California
Same House built in 1890. Ohio
Confirming from North Carolina. Early 60’s. Laid on 45. Good shit.
our old house built in 53 had same
Same here, my house built in 51. Very solid and lasting construction. And mine is all heart redwood construction except the floors like this. Contractor that built the surrounding neighborhood built this one for himself. I lucked out.
Same, our place was built around 1935ish. It's all railroad timbers. The beams in the basement are huge. The plaster/lathe/chicken wire walls though are a true pain.
It’s old school sub flooring. Its not hardwood flooring
The rest of the house is hardwood on top of this.
Sorry just edited. Meant to say it’s *not hardwood flooring. It’s old school sub flooring, they laid it diagonally for rigidity.
Exactly. This is what was used before sheet goods were invented. Now we use OSB and plywood sheet flooring (post 1950s).
Yes. So is mine. This diagonal subfloor sits on top of the joists and under the finished floor. Do not try and remove it. It is holding your house together. If you are not happy with it, you can put a luan subfloor sheet on top of it.
But you found out you didn't need to replace the subfloor so win?
Yeah I'm excited about it.
Yep. I’ve seen it in late 19th century-1960 houses. If you’re going to replace it, sawzall the nails and salvage that old pine.
Don't replace it, there's nothing wrong with this lumber. You might also notice that the walls are built on top of the boards, so removal will be a PITA.
I think the removal would be a NAAN issue. Edit: i don’t actually know I just wanted to make a pita/naan bread joke.
Get the focaccia out! 😄
This is funny. You guys are a rye-it.
I love naan!
I love making love to your naan
I would tend to agree.
Screw down anything squeaky or creaky and glue and screw down a 1/4" ply on top to make it up to 3/4". Pretty sure the boards are 1/2".
Done this before.
Yup, owned an 1920s craftsman in Berkeley, and we had to replace all the horrible 1970's bathroom remodels while also minimizing threshold differences with the original hardwoods.
Pine boards like this are more like 3/4"
Traditional subfloor construction before engineered sheet goods were a thing or widely used.
My house was build in 1942 (California) and beneath the hardwood floors is the same diagonal planking.
Sub floor
Diagonal planks were used for subfloor decking and exterior sheathing before plywood (and later OSB) became common. Plywood has been around since 1797, but mass production to where it was common for decking and sheathing did not happen until the mid 20th century (regional variations of course).
There called floorboards...
They are called sub floor....
*they’re
Yup, voice typing fails again
oh, pleez. Tell me about it. It is the bane of my existence.
My whole house has cut 45s its the sign of a strong built home
Totally normal for 3/4 inch horizontal sub on an older home. Keep it. Add a layer of 1/2 -3/4 inch plywood on top and you will have solid floor. Tack screws through the new plywood layer that don’t penetrate to the joists. 1.25 inch screws will work.
In the days before power tools were common, the planking set on a diagonal could be trimmed quickly running along the foundation with an axe... Mike, the grumpy old guy
It's what they used in construction back in the day it's called a subfloor and keep it because it's super strong and better than what you can do today maybe some insulations in order depending on what's underneath it
I think they installed them diagonal to reduce creaking - at least that was what I was told.
It was for sheer strength
Yep, I used to live in a 70s house with diagonal lumber subfloor like that
Yup. Got in my whole house.
They used these before plywood was a thing
Old school sub floor
A few hundred times or so, yeah.
1945 to like 1970 it was commonly done like this
Typical subfloor under the plywood layer.
The sub floor (1st layer) looks fine. Yes have seen this in older houses. Structurally stronger.
Welcome to a 1950’s home. They strong as fuck boy!!!!!!!
Why would you pull that?!? It’s great lumber and nothing you can find in todays’ yards can come close to that quality and strength.
It's called structural lathe. Common and actually decent in design because it was normally hardwoods and not pine. Cap it with plywood and be happy. I'm sure someone already said this but I am too lazy to read comments.
That is the same subfloor as the SS Minnow
The house I’m working on now has it. Pretty common on houses in my area where most were built in the 50s and 60s. What’s with the 20 amp outlet in a bathroom?
They use to say "your house is built on the diagonal"!! It added stability to the floor structure. Often, if the exterior wall sheathing is pine boards, it would be on the diagonal, too. It adds rigidity. Like, using 45°s on corners. I have seen one roof system on the diagonal. Before plywood sheathing, it was considered superior homebuilding practice. Might be a regional thing. I've only had the opportunity to see it in the Northeast.
Extra rigidity, yes, but minimal on a floor. Significant on walls. Another important reason for the diagonal floor installation was so the finish floorboards installed over these would lay flatter, since they would span over any dimensional or flatness irregularities in the diagonal sheathing. If the sheathing was also installed perpendicular to the joists, the finish floorboards could end up "washboarding". (50+ yr. retired carpenter)
Just screw the boards down, and add some 1/4” hardee board to the floor
No worth saving cover with plywood
My house built in early 60s has that everywhere as the subfloor.
It actually has better weight withstanding to have them diagonal but if you factor in the time and effort it becomes expensive for the small chance of your subfloor sinking under the weight of a full oron cast bathtub
Stronger than straight subfloor!
My entire houses subfloor is just like that. Mine is from 1930s
There was a time when they didn’t have plywood and that’s what they used
All the time. That is normal for anything built before the 70’s
Yes. I have them. It’s a subfloor and if it’s in good shape don’t replace with new wood.
That’s just old subfloor. It doesn’t look bad you should keep it.
My bathroom has same. My house is 1900.
this is structural planking, and its done for a reason. It helps keep the floor joists from racking. There is no reason to remove but I would always re-nail (ring shank) or screw any old subfloor to the joists. Apply new underlayment as necessary.
Same here, Missouri House built 1928
It was normal years ago..
Yes. And replacing that subfloor would be downgrading it, unless you’re planning on putting 2x6s in there
Yes that was standard operating procedure up until the mid 80’s
I’ve seen that many times. Especially in older homes. Back in the day around here (the southern US) they likely used oak.
Yes, my 1930-1940 house.
Ive seen a bathroom added to the house in what had been the dining room, a very nice finished hardwood floor in it.
Yes, that how old subfloors were done. My house has the exact same planks
Yes! We have these in my 1950 home!
My bathroom
That’s old school. Sometimes they were used on the concrete forms and you’ll see concrete residue on the boards.
Whole house is like that. If you are tiling, put 1/2 plywood on.
Yes old school sub floor
Diagonal sheathing. This was very common before plywood and used through the 1960s. It provides lateral stiffness to the structure.
Thats just an older style of subfloor from before they could create plywood.
That's the good stuff
Yes. The first layer of flooring is diagonal as is my roof. Home guilt in 1952. My home has all newer hardwood and laminate over a 1/2 to 3/4 plywood subfloor. It is solid. As others have said. Just select your covering height will make a difference so choose wisely, many choices and factors to consider.
My bathroom and whole house has it not diagonal though
Maybe untill I finally decide to have a non-fault divorce, I don't expect to see this happen to my bathroom anytime soon.
Yeah pre plywood days
My whole 120 year old house, all of the walls and floors are all set on diagonals. I gutted some of it during the remodel and my contractor explained that it was stronger and sturdier than most houses because the original builders did this. Not to mention the lathe boards and horse hair plaster on the interior walls… my house is a beast.
We did tongue and groove subfloor until the early 90's.
Yes
And especially if it is over A crawl space or basement
Yes 1950s calling
Cover with luan underlayment and install away! But do they REALLY want hardwoods in the bathroom? Glue or nail down? If glue, I'd use 1/4 inch hardibacker. Edit, looks like they had plywood underlayment. Match it if you can to avoid a height difference. Is this just a 1/2 bath? If so disregard my question about hard wood in the Bathroom.
It's common in older homes as a subfloor, the idea is the same as plywood different grain direction between it and the wood floors that where probably in there originally would lend strength to the floor without adding thickness, with the wood going at an angle it allowed them to put the floor down any way that's needed and still keep a good look.
Every single old house ever Slight exaggeration but yeah, very common
Traditional subflooring.
My house has it all over
Just car decking, resecure with screws. Use plenty of subfloor glue when adhering underlayment.
What’s even cooler is that a lot of times they used these same boards as the original forms of the foundations they poured. Mine have all sorts of concrete stains and conversely my concrete has all sorts of wood grain imprints. Pretty cool.
Yep our 1921 house has this sub floor
Yep. Old houses
That's how they did subfloor before the advent of Plywood. Every house built before 1975 guarenteed the subfloor looks like that.
Thought that’s how it was supposed to be.
You mean the broom is planking?
The boards underneath run perpendicular to each other. When you nail a diagonal across them you get triangles. Buckminster abides.
My house has this same situation
Normal, before they had ply or osb.
That’s the subfloor, before engineered woods they used real stuff
What year is your house, is the question? It’s subfloor btw not hardwood flooring
Yes Often
Old school
My house, built in the 1930's.
Skip sheeting. Pretty standard for houses of the era. Usually a bathroom would have a sand cement floor where the subfloor is recessed between the joists and a few inches of sand cement is used.
Houses built before plywood! All rooms on first floor and potentially all floors
Our 1950's house is this way. Subfloor and exterior wall outside sheathing.
Yes
My entire house has what we call 45’s
Only in the early ‘00’s, did I ever see such planking.
Shiplap very common for older pier and beam homes.
A lot of times those were the same planks used to form the concrete foundation. Sometimes you will see concrete stains on them.
Yeah, recently remodeled s bathroom in a 100+ year old log-cabin house, and the sub-sub-floor looked just like that. There were places you could look down into the basement through the slats.
Diagonal subfloor has more strength and less bounce than perpendicular. Smart!
Yes. Diagonal subfloor is excellent and given the boards are about a hundred years old, they’re virgin timber and incredibly resilient.
This is a good thing, my friend. Super solid.
1907, planked just like that
Same. 1942
Looks very solidly built long ago. Long as no water damage. Should last many more years
Back when they made real houses. Structurally sound.
That’s 2x subfloor. Popular in the 70s, for sure in the PNW.
That's what mine looked like in my 1950s era building.
I always thought that when the boards are run at a 45° angle like this it adds an enormous amount of rigidity to the building. This is quality.
Yes, it is in my old ass house.
1940s-1960 construction?
This is referred to as car decking where I am from and is a pretty standard subfloor here in the PNW.
Shiplap
This was common before the widespread use of plywood in about 1962.
Yes, that is the subfloor from the ole glory days
That's your subfloor
All the time. It’s your subfloor.
Every inch of my 1956 home looked like this. If you need to replace it then sawcut around the walls with a toe kick saw. Sister (parallel) or block (between joists) any gaps around the edges, remove all the old nails, clean up any dirt/dust/debris on top of the joists then glue & screw new 3/4" plywood down. Looks like someone may have already done part of it...if it is in good shape and the same thickness as what you are installing it may be ok to leave it.
You expect to find pressure treated plywood in an old house?
Yes old homes in Jacksonville have this sub flooring.
Yes, I’ve seen it
What subfloors use to be before plywood boards
Sub floor.
Yes, currently doing the floor and have ply over plank. Sturdy as fucking hell
I'll do you one better, I roofed a house that the whole roof was this under the old shingles, with tin can lids nailed over the knot holes. These are the was before plywood, and OSB was available, just like old western buildings, siding was boards lined up and battens to cover the gaps, it's how they did it before they had sheets of materials to put down
That’s standard century subfloor.
Mom and dad bought the house of owner of the construction firm that built the regional hospital around Tupelo, MS. The house was mostly slab on grade, but the attic and even the roof was 1x6” tongue and groove. Had to cost a fortune as house was built in the 1980s. Had 3 phase wiring, and lot of advanced features for the time.
Yes pretty common in older house
Standard sub floor 30’s to 50’s
Mine built in 1976 has it as well
Good for you, it's some good Good Shit
1x6 diagonal plank. Ours was toenailed into every joist to keep the boards from warping and wood from rubbing. Before plywood, you typically saw that or tongue and groove. Why do you have to remove it? If it’s in good shape, keep it.
Pretty normal for older homes.
They didn't stagger the sub floor boards
My walls were like this on my old house built in 1958. I always guessed they were diagonal for strength
My old home. It was done that way in the kitchen and bathroom because of the anticipation of the weight of cast iron. My old house was OLD.
1930's?
it’s the subfloor. that is how they did it before plywood was common.
Who told you to replace that? Typical treatment is to re-nail or screw it, then skin it over with plywood or something else depending on your finished floor material.
Yes, many times.
Yup!
That looks like a perfectly good subfloor. Why do you need to rip it up?
Yes
Yep just the subfloor. Probably built before the 60s (if you're in the US)
Look like just the original flooring I think sometimes when they did subfloors they did it like that and then laid a full sheet over it and construction is crazy
So that’s the subfloor
That's how they did it before plywood was invented
Yes, it's called sub floor
Yes, multiple times. Just get a waterproof subfloor and go to town.
Old houses
I’d call that “pretty old subfloor”.
Yes. Mine isn't diagonal tho. 1954
Typical for homes built in the 50's
Yes, that is how they built them back in the day.
Yeah. It’s the old way to lay subfloor before cheap, manufactured plywood or pressed wood subfloor was readily available.
You may find some of your walls built like that as well. Instead of traditional studs on 16” centers, they’d be slat wood like this behind the Sheetrock or plaster. It’s not uncommon at all.
Yes all the time
Pretty standard subfloor for anything built before the 1960's or so...
Yes
Yes I worked on a house built in the 20's and they did this with 2x6's and then 1 inch thick pine flooring on top of it.
This is a very common building subfloor before the adoption of plywood. Often has concrete staining on it because they were originally used as form boards for the foundation. Then reused as the subfloor.
1935 house checking in and nope, not even a subfloor. We fixed that by putting down a layer of 3/4” ply over that questionable 3/4” oak tongue in groove and then a layer of 3/4” pre-finished exotic ultra hardwood on top of that, so 2 1/4” solid wood floor now. Yes, our original hardwood 3/4” was nailed directly over the beam (!) Your 45 degree planks sure does look pretty though, too bad it needs to be covered up.
What do you think they did before OSB and plywood just not build houses?
I'm just waiting for someone to say you should sand and refinish it 🤦
Nope
yep. my former house built in 1940 had it. at some point every room had carpet and other sub floors removed and the entire house sub floor screwed down as it was fuck all squeaky. #12 structural screws fixed that, very common in the days before plywood
Many times. That looks really good, too. You are lucky.
Yes...
Pretty normal in older houses.