How To Level A Concrete Floor For Putting Down Hardwood

When installing a basement hardwood floor the concrete must be flat so the tongue and grooves of the hardwood meet and connect.

How to level a concrete floor for putting down hardwood.

Over time concrete floors can settle unevenly or become uneven due to cracking and moisture. Installing hardwood flooring over concrete. Actually the floor must be flat which allows for minor variations in the level. Learn how to use a grinder.

Start at the farthest point in the room then work your way out of the room. The moisture barrier will level itself out. If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage. Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet.

Old basement slabs can crack and buckle in places. The misconception is that a concrete subfloor must be completely level to install hardwood. Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals. Whether you want to refinish an uneven basement floor or replace or add new flooring on top of an existing concrete floor somewhere in your home you most likely will need to level the concrete floor.

Weight down the first few rows with something heavy but use a rag underneath the weight to protect. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level. When installing laminate vinyl tile or hardwood flooring it s important to know how to level a floor.

Plan to correct gaps of more than 1 8 to 3 16 inch. 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. Self leveling underlayment products can be used on concrete floors wood subfloors that are uneven but still in decent shape and even over ceramic tile floors eliminating the task of tearing. Get down on your knees and look for daylight under the level or board.

You need to fill any large cracks and be sure that the entire floor is level. Mark the high and low spots on the subfloor. Hardwood floors are durable low maintenance and easy to clean.