I recently moved into an old farmhouse from the late 1800s and I found a subfloor ramp covered by carpet in my hallway. The previous owners made some questionable DIY renovations, and I'm unsure if this ramp serves a purpose or if it's okay to remove it. I'm planning to install hardwood flooring, so I'm curious if it's possible to just take out the ramp and the top layer of subfloor. I've attached a diagram for reference, but I'm open to advice on how to approach this.
3 Answers
I wonder if they installed that ramp to run plumbing or electrical under it. Could be helpful for what you're planning on doing later! But yeah, your best bet is to pull up the carpet and see what's really going on beneath it. Sometimes those changes were made for practical purposes, though. Check carefully!
My guess is that the ramp was added to when there was previously a step between two areas—maybe someone modified it for better access. If that’s the case, it should be fine to remove it. However, since there's no detailed info in your diagram, it would really help to check from the basement or get some measurements before you proceed. A clearer drawing might help get more accurate advice!
You can generally remove it! Originally, there wasn't even a second floor or a ramp, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. Just keep in mind that you won’t know what’s underneath until you lift it up. You might discover some old repairs that need attention, but if you’re covering it up anyway, that shouldn’t be a huge concern. Who knows, you might even find some beautiful old hardwood flooring underneath!