How To Level Up Hardwood Floor

Screw the strips into the floor joists or subfloor.

How to level up hardwood floor.

If the subfloor is the same in both rooms connecting the two rooms with an even floor shouldn t be difficult. This will expose the subfloor underneath which is where most leveling problems lie. Mix the floor leveling compound with water in a bucket following the manufacturer s directions. Pound nails into the subfloor with a hammer and set screws slightly below the surface of the subfloor with a screwdriver.

If the level is in the bubble you re ready to go. If the bubble is off raise the low end until it s level. Clean it well with a wet dry vacuum. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too.

Otherwise lay a very straight metal bar or wood board on the floor and place a level on top. Use screws to secure the leveling strips to the floor every 16 inches. If an engineer found no structural issues you may be able to level the floor by applying a cement based self leveling floor product such as henry level pro self leveling underlayment available. If your house is built over a basement first inspect all of the basement support beams and posts where they meet the floor.

If the floor slants irregularly cut strips that bridge the cap at each floor joist. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor. You can leave linoleum or sheet vinyl in place if it s difficult to remove or if removal would damage the sub floor. Use a pry bar to pull up hardwood floors one section at a time or unfasten carpet or laminate and roll it up from one end.

To do this simply cut several leveling strips the same size as the original strip. Be suspicious of wood posts set on dirt floors or wood posts with concrete poured around the post bases. As the posts slowly rot and melt into the floor the house settles accordingly bottom to top. Pass a long carpenter s level or.

The thickness of hardwood flooring boards is known as the profile and profiles vary. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings. Pour a generous amount of mixed leveler onto the subfloor focusing on one or more wavy areas.