3 Options for Uneven Floor Repair
Dealing with uneven floors is a part of the trade when installing flooring. Before you can do a good job of installing wood, laminate, or any other flooring, you need a good subfloor to start out with. Here are some things to consider when your subfloor is uneven.
1. Self-Leveling Compound
When you are dealing with uneven floors, one option that you have is to use self-leveling compound. This compound can potentially be utilized on a concrete slab or a wood subfloor, and it works well when you are dealing with dips in the floor.
Self-leveling compound is similar to concrete, typically coming in large bags in powder form. You mix it with water in a bucket until it creates a thick paste. You can then spread it out on the floor in the affected areas. It will find the lowest areas of the floor and work to level out the subfloor.
With this type of substance, you can apply it with a trowel and spread it evenly over the floor. Then you will need to let it dry before you do anything else with the floor. If you have a large height difference in the floor, you may need to apply multiple layers of the self-leveling compound. In this fashion, you can create a ramp effect if needed.
2. Plywood
Another option that you could utilize is installing plywood on top of the old subfloor. By putting in new plywood, you can effectively create a new, perfectly smooth surface to install your flooring on. This method is easiest if you are dealing with a wood subfloor, but it can be done on top of concrete if need be.
If you have a large difference from one area of the floor to the other, you could find the appropriate thickness of plywood and install it over the top of the lower portion of the floor. This will allow the two areas of the floor to meet up at the same height.
If you are dealing with a wavy floor, you can just put plywood over the top of the entire area. Since plywood sheets are usually 4x8 feet, they should be big enough to span any differences in flooring height and provide you with a sturdy subfloor to work with.
When installing the plywood, make sure that you use nails that are thick enough to go through the plywood and all the way down through the floor below. If you are installing on top of concrete, you will have to use bolts that can go through the concrete surface.
3. Grinding
Another option that you may have is to grind down the floor. This works best if you have a large hump in the middle of a concrete slab. If you have a hump in a wood subfloor, you can sand it down with a sander.
Uneven Floor Repair FAQ
What is the cheapest way to level a floor?
If you need to get a floor even again affordably, self-leveling compound is a good option for this. It's easy to use and inexpensive and not a difficult DIY.
However, self-leveling compound is not suitable for all types of floors. You can also use vinyl floor tiles to try to level out the floor.
Do uneven floors always mean foundation problems?
Uneven floors can sometimes signal a problem in the foundation of the property, but not always. Normal settling can cause uneven floors, as can deteriorated screw jacks.
When should I be worried about uneven floors?
Uneven floors can be caused by structural problems and often indicate some larger problem, so you should always be worried about uneven floors. Buckling, sagging, and sloping indicate bigger issues that you should look into, as they could be a sign of future problems.
How do you level a floor without removing the floor?
You do have options if you want to level a floor without removing the floor. Self-leveling compound can go on existing flooring to make it more level.
You can also sand down the high spots on a floor in order to level it out. Most of the time, however, you do want to remove flooring and properly level it.
How much does it cost to repair a sagging floor?
Depending on how you fix your uneven floors and whether or not you get professional help, you will pay around $100 to $300 per square foot to repair a sagging, uneven floor.
