Floor Levelling - What You Need to Know

If you are planning to lay new tiles, timber floorboards or concrete flooring in your home, it’s crucial to get the subfloor levelled first. Otherwise, issues with the surface will quickly arise. Uneven floors are dangerous and can lead to accidents. They also look bad and make a space feel unkempt and disorganised. Floor levelling is a simple and cost-effective way of making sure that your floor has a good foundation for the rest of the work to be done on it.

Concrete slabs can become uneven over time for a variety of reasons, including movement in the soil or cracking. Over time, this can cause the concrete to lose its shape and create humps, holes and other imperfections. If these issues are not addressed, they will eventually impact the quality and longevity of your flooring.

Floor levelling is the process of reducing high spots in concrete floors to prepare them for laying floor coverings or to provide a smooth, even finish. It is generally carried out on new or existing concrete floors. It can also be used to repair damaged concrete surfaces, such as those that have cracked or chipped. In some cases, the best solution is to shim the floor joists (if working on bare joists above a basement or crawlspace) to correct the issue and create an even surface for the floor covering.

The process of preparing a concrete floor for laying floor coverings involves grinding down high areas and filling them with a levelling compound. Most concrete levelling compounds are designed for use on residential and commercial floors. They can be used to prepare a concrete floor for laying vinyl, timber or laminate flooring as well as providing a smooth and even finish for a tiled or painted floor.

In some instances, it is not possible to use a levelling compound and the best solution is to shim the joists (working on bare joists above s concrete floor) to create an even surface for the floor covering. However, this can be a very laborious and messy job that requires the assistance of a builder or carpenter.

If you want to shim your concrete floor, it is important that you remove all furniture and baseboards from the room. Once the area is clear, sweep the floor and vacuum it to remove any dust or dirt. You should also clean any large cracks in the floor with a concrete filler and sealant to ensure that the levelling compound is fully embedded in them.

When you are ready to install your flooring, it’s a good idea to use a long spirit level to determine just how off-level the floor is. This will give you a better idea of how much self-levelling cement is required to fix the problem.

Achieving a level floor is essential for the installation of floor coverings and will prevent potential accidents and injuries. It will also help to prolong the life of your new flooring and improve the overall appearance of the room.

Precise Restumping & Underpinning successfully maintains a reputation for delivering quality, reliable and sound services to clients all over New South Wales, with a licensed builder that personally oversee all work.