How To Level A Wooden Floor For Laminate

These hills and valleys will eventually lead to unwanted bouncy spots squeaks and groans in the final laminate floor.

How to level a wooden floor for laminate.

5 double check your levelness and. To level a subfloor for installing laminate follow the directions above to remove high and low spots. Place wood shims between the subfloor and the top of the floor joist. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor.

Look at the board where it touches the subfloor and see if there are any dips bumps or otherwise uneven areas. To test for the flatness for laying laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor lay a 10 foot long 2x4 board. Wait for the compound to dry prior to laminate installation. Remember to pin down the barrier to keep it from shifting around.

Tap them into place where needed with a hammer until you have leveled out the floor above. After installing the moisture barrier select the thickest pad you can get to help level out the floor even more. If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists. Feather the edges so they blend in with the surrounding floor.

A plywood layer is not necessary if you are putting down wood laminate. This will expose the subfloor underneath which is where most leveling problems lie. A plywood subfloor will bridge any minor waves in the existing floor and leveling compound would help too. Once you ve leveled your floor you can install the laminate pad.

Apply floor leveling compound to any low areas or dips using a trowel. Fill cracks or major voids with wood putty or a self leveling compound. 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. After vacuuming or sweeping the subfloor to clean it add a plywood layer if the subfloor is in very bad shape but do not overlap the sheets.

Use a trowel to spread the material then allow it to dry before proceeding. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings. Mix the compound as directed on the package then pour it onto the low spots in the floor.