It’s no doubt flooring is one of the most important sections of your home as it’s one you’ll see every day. So choosing the right flooring option and then start doing the floor leveling is the first steps that must be taken. Our professional Melbourne team at MA Flooring will guide you in choosing your dream floor.
Floor levelling step-by-step
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to level a floor, covering key details, practical tips, and useful information to help you get started. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, feel free to leave us a message or explore our blog for additional insights.
1. Removing the old floor
To begin, let’s elaborate about the subfloor. It’s one of the most important parts of flooring in general. Not only does it provide support for your flooring, but helps to level out any bumps on the surface. If the subfloor is uneven, it can cause problems with flooring, such as damages (cracks, bumps), and if bad, possibly getting worned out, wood problems, and more.
The most common method to balance the floor is to clear the previous flooring and expose the subfloor. It can be a messy and dangerous job, so it’s important to be safe when you’re working with floors. More importantly, old floors may contain asbestos, so it is important to consult a professional to help safely remove and dispose of this material.
2. Levelling the subfloor
Once the subfloor is exposed, you may begin to level it out. This can be done with a variety of different tools, but the most common method out of them is to use a self-levelling compound.
3. Cleaning and repairing uneven spots on the wooden subfloor
The first step is to secure any loose boards or plywood sheets by screwing them down firmly. If needed, the installer will add extra wood screws to ensure everything is tightly fixed. Nails are replaced with screws, since popped nails can easily loosen again over time.
Once the boards are secure, the sanding stage begins. A floor sander is used to smooth out high spots across the surface. Keep checking the floor with a level during this process to ensure evenness, sanding until all raised areas are gone. Finally, vacuum the entire surface thoroughly with a wet or dry vacuum to remove dust and debris.
4. Cleaning and repairing uneven spots on the concrete subfloor
When dealing with concrete subfloors, our team of experts utilizes a concrete grinder for sizable, spacious areas. Alternatively, they may use a 4-inch or 8-inch angle grinder equipped with a cup-wheel attachment designed for concrete use. During the process, they consistently inspect the floor with a level to ensure precision. Once the grinding is complete, they meticulously vacuum the floor with a wet/dry vacuum and perform a final quality check.
5. Low spots on wooden and concrete subfloors
There are a variety of products & tools available to help with low spots in general:
- Floor underlayments: they are thin layers of material that provide insulation, sound absorption, and wear reduction for floors. Additionally, they can act as a vapor barrier.
- Floor levellers: Floor levellers are cement-based substances depending on the person that may be pre-mixed or dry and used with water. Once added, the leveller will settle directly into the low spots and then harden as it dries. This allows the person to make a levelled floor.
- Floor patches: they’re useful in many topics including repairing holes, cracks, dips, and other imperfections.
A floor levelling compound can also be applied to wooden subfloors. This compound has a putty-like consistency, making it easy to spread over low spots and create a smooth surface. Once it has dried, it can be sanded, painted, or even stained, offering both durability and flexibility for different flooring finishes.
At the end, do not hesitate to contact our flooring experts in Melbourne and ask any question before making decision about flooring. They will consult you to choose the right option based on your situation among flooring choices such as laminate flooring, vinyl flooring, and carpet installation.