How To Level Up Hardwood Floor

You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings.

How to level up hardwood floor.

Pass a long carpenter s level or. If the floor slants irregularly cut strips that bridge the cap at each floor joist. 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 level is in the bubble you re ready to go.

Pound nails into the subfloor with a hammer and set screws slightly below the surface of the subfloor with a screwdriver. 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. Use screws to secure the leveling strips to the floor every 16 inches. If the subfloor is the same in both rooms connecting the two rooms with an even floor shouldn t be difficult.

If the bubble is off raise the low end until it s level. Be suspicious of wood posts set on dirt floors or wood posts with concrete poured around the post bases. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. You can leave linoleum or sheet vinyl in place if it s difficult to remove or if removal would damage the sub floor.

As the posts slowly rot and melt into the floor the house settles accordingly bottom to top. To do this simply cut several leveling strips the same size as the original strip. Otherwise lay a very straight metal bar or wood board on the floor and place a level on top. Screw the strips into the floor joists or subfloor.

On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor. To do this you ll want the longest level you can find. Mix the floor leveling compound with water in a bucket following the manufacturer s directions. Spread the leveler over the floor with a trowel or a gauge rake so it covers each low area completely.

Watch our step by step video showing how to level a wooden floor with expert advice and top tips to help you complete the job with confidence. Clean it well with a wet dry vacuum. The thickness of hardwood flooring boards is known as the profile and profiles vary.