I have a master bedroom where one half is raised about 7 inches compared to the rest of the floor, a quirk from when the house was built in the 1970s. I'm curious if it's relatively simple to lower this elevated section, bringing it level with the rest of the room. I'm planning to remove the existing parquet flooring anyway and replace it with hardwood. Is it likely that there's an original subfloor underneath that elevated part at the same height as the rest? Additionally, would I need to adjust the electrical outlets downwards by 7 inches, and are there any other tasks I should anticipate beyond repainting? Thanks for any insights!
1 Answer
It's hard to say for sure without checking, but you might need to do a bit of detective work first. Try tapping on the elevated section with a hammer. If it sounds hollow, that could be a clue. You can also drill a few small holes to peek underneath with a borescope. This way, you can see if there's a subfloor or joists below. Just be mindful of any hidden ductwork since that could complicate things if you end up needing to lower those too as well when you do the floor replacement.
I'm definitely looking to replace it, but not rushing into it. I just remembered that there are forced air ducts underneath the elevated side, which is also giving me some pause. I guess if I lower the floor, those ducts might need to be adjusted too, right? Any advice on that?