Can This Flooring Be Made Flat?

Hello,

I am working on the floor shown in the photo below. As you can see, it is a layer of vinyl which is on top of a second layer of black tile which in turn is on top of concrete. I want to install a plywood subfloor over it consisting of 3/4" plywood attached to the concrete with a Remington powder nailer. The vinyl will be left in place as is. A 3/4" white oak strip floor from Harris-Tarkett will be installed on the subfloor. How do I check for flatness in this floor, and if it is not quite flat, how do I make it flat?



Here is a detail view of the vinyl flooring: as mentioned above, it is a layer of vinyl on top of a second layer of black tile which in turn is on top of concrete. The concrete is the grey mass in the middle of the black area of the photo.



Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

Your choice of using 3/4" plywood for a subfloor should flatten out any "defects" if the floor is level. If your floors are not level then you can look into floor leveling compound.

 

Bazooka:

Flatten out sounds more like the key here. I recall another thread that Bob started and he mentioned a large high area? I haven't seen any mention of that since. Pics definately help.

3/4" plywood attached to concrete can "take out" alot of minor dips and waves due the rigidness of the material itself. Level is a term that is rarely used in the floor covering industry, unless you're in the stone and marble business. I reference to pic # 2, I'm sure Bob will toss that cheap looking clam shell baseboard in the dumper, and install newer baseboard to compliment his new floor?

 

Bazooka and Ken:

Thanks a lot for your replies, this makes me feel a lot better. I think I am finally ready to get a 2X4 in each of the rooms. I lay it down on the floor and check for flatness -- for high and low spots. Isn't that how it is done?

Ken, all clamshell baseboard has been removed and thrown out. It will be replaced. I'm learning a lot about plaster walls and flooring.

You will see more pictures here as I progress with the flooring project. Currently, we are waiting for an electrician to start a big electrical update and a plasterer to repair one wall.

Thanks!

 

Bob:

You can use a straight 2X4, but I prefer the stringline method as I believe I had mentioned that prior? Yes, send more pics. Any chance you can improve on the quality? Pic #1 almost looks like a prefab concrete subfloor. Yikes!!

Keep us updated.

 

Ken is correct, use a stringline (caulkline) oe a 6 to 8 foot straightedge. Stretch the line across the corners of the room then the length and width. If you see no low places fine if you see even a slight low spot check further.

 

Ken and AzFred:

Thanks a lot for your input. I'll do the string line tomorrow night or Saturday and get back to you. Will hopefully have more pictures. The photos you see were taken in low light conditions at night.

I do have one question. I want to buy an pneumatic nail gun that will blind-nail the Harris-Tarkett solid oak prefinished strip flooring. What make and model of nail gun currently available will do the job? Also since the flooring is prefinished, do I still need to face nail it? I mean, won't that mar the finish?

Thanks a lot!

 

Bob,

Anyway you can tell me how to attach pics like yuor post ?
Have digital camera and computer, just don't know how . Lot easier to see than describe .

Thanx, Bill

 

Bob:

Me thinks you have to upload it onto your own site then paste the url here. Right click on Bob's pics and look at the properties.

 

Thanx Ken