In old buildings, often nothing is truly straight, from floors to ceilings! Whether you want to fix an uneven floor for your comfort or change your flooring to install a new and beautiful floating floor, you will need to proceed with leveling your floor. It is indeed impossible to install a new flooring on a surface that is not level. It is therefore important to understand how to level a floor. Here are the techniques and our advice to help you level your floor and achieve a straight surface.
The importance of having a flat floor
An uneven floor can cause sagging or create level differences. To prevent these problems and limit future deformations, a level floor is crucial. Whether for installing hardwood or engineered wood flooring, a well-leveled surface offers better weight distribution and prevents premature wear of the floor covering.
Analyze and evaluate the current state of your floor
Before leveling, an assessment of the condition of your wood floor or concrete floor is necessary. This analysis helps to detect problematic areas and determine the extent of leveling required. Use a spirit level or laser level to precisely identify level differences.
Choosing the right leveling method
To level a floor, various methods are available. Use coating or dry screed for slight irregularities, or opt for floor plates or a new floor installation for major adjustments. The choice of method will depend on the specifics of your project and existing materials.
Tips for leveling a wooden floor
To successfully level a wooden floor, it is crucial to follow methodical steps.
1) Preparation of the surface to be leveled
Ensure that the surface is clean and free of any debris. Remove old floor coverings and secure any unstable joists. The use of shims may be necessary to adjust the level of joists and create a solid base for the new covering.
2) Preparation of materials and room
Gather all necessary materials such as the product to level a floor, tools, and protections for the room. Make sure that the environment is safe and suitable for the work to be done.
3) Properly perform the leveling
Screeding for floors with a slight level difference
If your floor is not straight, but has only a slight level difference not exceeding 1 centimeter, it is possible to proceed with screeding. Screeding is a simple and effective floor leveling technique that requires, however, and to do it well, a minimum of skills and technical knowledge of this type of interior work. It is particularly important to check that the floor is in good condition before filling all small holes using the appropriate material such as putty. After screeding, it is possible to install a floating floor or even carpet, PVC, while avoiding glued parquet.
New joists for a floor that is not load-bearing
In case of an uneven and non-load-bearing floor, it is absolutely necessary to make it load-bearing by adding new joists above the existing joists depending on the material of your walls. If your walls are concrete, you will need to anchor the joists using metal brackets, whereas if your walls are stone, you will need to insert the joists into the wall. Only this new joist system will be able to support a solid wood floor, OSB, or particleboard panels. Finally, the space between the two joists will be beneficial for placing sound and thermal insulation.
Shimming for an uneven load-bearing floor
To level an uneven load-bearing floor, the ideal solution is to work directly on the existing floor. If the joists are uneven, they can be adjusted using shims, ensuring that each joist is perfectly level. Once this step is completed, a new OSB flooring can be installed to obtain a uniform surface. If you plan to install a floating parquet or wooden floor, this preparation ensures a solid and durable base, essential for the longevity and aesthetics of the final covering.
Fermacell boards if the floor is load-bearing
If it’s an uneven load-bearing floor, the second option is to choose to lay Fermacell floor boards. This leveling technique involves creating a thin screed using sound-insulating beads (made of carbon or expanded clay) to level the floor. Then, Fermacell floor boards are directly laid on top, which are assembled together by joints, without being fixed to the existing floor. Finally, the last step is to glue and screw the 20 mm Fermacell boards together to create a dry screed ready to receive any flooring of your choice. This is a technical installation that requires skills and expertise, but it remains quick and useful to avoid thermal bridges. To know which option is best for you, depending on your floor and its situation in your building, don’t hesitate to ask for opinions and advice from experienced professionals in the field of flooring.
4) Rest and maintenance of the leveled area
After applying the leveling products, it is important to allow time for the floor to stabilize. Avoid walking on the surface or replacing furniture during the recommended period.
Call on professionals for your floor leveling
To ensure a lasting result, opt for experienced professionals in floor installation and leveling. Their expertise guarantees a notable improvement in the value and aesthetics of your space. Call on the professional services of L’Artisan du Plancher now!
