How To Level Floor Before Installing Hardwood

How to level a subfloor for a hardwood floor install.

How to level floor before installing hardwood.

Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level. Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Learn how to use a grinder.

Leveling a floor can be either a do it yourself project or a job for the pros depending on what s causing the problem. Level floors are critical for reducing gaps between the flooring material and substrate and preventing sagging and other structural complications. Whether you re going on to install hardwood ceramic tile or laminate one of the most important steps of any flooring project is making sure the subfloor foundation is level. Before taking steps to level a floor you must find out why it s not level.

Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat. Hardwood floor installation can be slowed by an uneven subfloor. Then using a floor leveling compound or asphalt shingles shim the dips so the floor is level. A level subfloor will help your flooring last longer and keep the finish attractive.

Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage.