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Make your floors perfectly flat with this DIY solution
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Have you noticed your floor starting to sag or develop raised bumps? When it’s time to update your flooring, installing the hardwood, tile, laminate, or other finish on a flat, level surface is important for protecting it from damage. Leveling your floor now stops high and low spots from developing again, and we’ll walk you through each step of the way. Follow along so you’re able to make your subfloors perfectly even and ready for your new flooring.

Things You Should Know

  • Take out your old flooring and run a level over the subfloor to find the high and low spots.
  • Use an electric sander or concrete grinder to shave down raised areas in the subfloor.
  • Pour a floor leveler over the low spots in your floor and smooth it out to 1 4 inch (0.64 cm) thick with a trowel.
  • ​​Let the leveler set overnight and then check the level of your floor again.
1

Remove the existing flooring.

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  1. When your floor is uneven, it’s a problem with the subfloor that’s underneath the tile, laminate, or hardwood. Always start by removing the baseboards on the wall first so your flooring is easier to take out. After that, the way you remove the flooring depends on the type you have. [1]
    • To remove tile floors , use a chisel and mallet to chip the tiles away. Then use a metal scraper to break apart the old adhesive.
    • To take out hardwood floors , use a circular saw to cut the boards into smaller lengths and lift them up with a pry bar.
    • For removing laminate flooring , lift up each board at an angle to slide it out from the others. Keep taking the boards out one at a time.
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2

Check the level of the subfloor.

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  1. Lay a long, straight 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) board across your floor and set a level on top of it. Move the board to different areas of the subfloor to check if the surface is level . Mark any raised spots or sagging areas with a pencil. [2]
    • Floors have a little natural variation, so it’s okay if the level varies by less than 3 16 inch (0.48 cm) every 10 feet (3.0 m).
    • For an alternative way to look for low spots in your floor, set a marble down in multiple places and watch where it stops rolling.
3

Have the floor checked for structural damage.

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  1. Contact a structural engineer or construction company in your area to check for underlying damage. If they find damaged or rotted joists, termite damage, and cracks in your foundation, have a professional contractor repair the issue first. If your floor sags due to your home naturally settling on the foundation, then you can level it on your own. [3]
    • If you level your floor without solving the underlying problem first, then the high and low spots may quickly come back.
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4

Sand down raised areas of the subfloor.

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  1. Wear safety goggles and a face mask when you’re sanding down the subfloor since it can produce a lot of dust. If you have wooden subfloors, go back and forth over the raised areas with an electric sander until they’re level with the rest of the wood. For a concrete floor, rent a concrete grinder from a local hardware store and grind the spot down . [4]
    • Frequently check the level of the area you’re sanding down so you don’t accidentally make a new low spot in the floor.
    • Common raised spots are the seams where the pieces of your subfloor meet.
5

Repair and clean the old subflooring.

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7

Mix floor leveler to a creamy consistency.

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  1. Your floor leveler will have the same texture of pancake batter. Follow the mixing directions for your specific brand, but normally the mix is around 1 part water and 5 parts leveler. Pour the leveler powder into a large bucket and begin adding room-temperature water little by little until the mixture thickens to a slurry. Keep stirring the mix vigorously to break up lumps. [7]
    • Only mix as much of the floor leveler as you plan on using since it hardens quickly and may be difficult to work with after 30 minutes.
    • Attach a mixing paddle to an electric drill to combine the leveler and water faster. Just use a slow speed so you don’t spill.
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8

Pour the leveler over your subfloor.

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  1. Start in one of the corners of the room furthest from the door. Slowly pour a thin layer of the leveler out of the bucket into each of the sunken sections you marked earlier. [8] Let the leveler naturally spread out and fill in any low points. Spread the leveler over your entire floor so you have the smoothest, most even surface. [9]
    • Floor leveler works well on concrete and wooden subfloors.
    • Try not to over-apply the compound. In most cases, you’ll only need a layer between 1 4 1 2 inch (0.64–1.27 cm) thick to even out the worst imperfections. [10]
    • Work towards the door so you don’t accidentally trap yourself in a corner.
9

Smooth the leveler with a hand trowel.

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  1. By the time you’re finished pouring, the compound will have set enough to finish by hand. Run your trowel over the surface of the leveler to smooth it out. Make sure that it’s not any thicker than 1 4 inch (0.64 cm), or else it may not set properly. [11]
    • Put on spiked shoe covers so you can walk across the leveler without leaving footprints or getting your shoes dirty.
    • Avoid pressing down too hard on the compound while it’s still wet since you could accidentally create a new low spot.
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13

Install your flooring.

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  1. Now that your subfloor is level, any flooring you put on top will stay flat and even. The subfloor may need additional prep depending on the type of floor you’re installing. [15]
    • To put in floor tile , install a cement-based backer board over a wooden subfloor to help keep the tiles held in place and properly spaced. For concrete subfloors, just be sure to use a tile leveling system so they’re all the same height.
    • If you’re installing hardwood, just nail the boards directly into the subfloor.
    • For vinyl or laminate flooring, you don’t need any additional prep.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What can I use to level a floor?
    Kevin Schlosser
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Kevin Schlosser is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Home Tech Handyman Ltd. With over 20 years of experience, Kevin specializes in age-in-place installations, flooring, roofing, and general remodeling handyman services. Kevin holds a blend of construction and in-home technology-related certifications including NAHB Certified Age-in-Place Specialist, CEDIA membership and certifications, and a Certification from the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals. Also, he is in training to receive certifications in Construction, Project Management, and other CEDIA qualified system integrator certifications. He is fully-insured in the state of Colorado.
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Leveling compound will fill in the lowest parts of your floor after you pour it.
  • Question
    Can self leveling compounds be used over 3/4" plywood?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, you can use leveling compounds on wooden or concrete subfloors.
  • Question
    Can you apply another layer over the dried compound if needed? If the floor needs needs more?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, since you should only add layers that are 1/4-inch thick, you may need to apply additional layers.
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      Tips

      • Leveling compounds won’t enhance the stability of the flooring, so it’s important to make sure your subfloor is properly stabilized and reinforced before dumping the messy compound on top.
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      Warnings

      • Avoid applying leveling compound directly to wood subflooring materials without a bonding agent. The liquid will absorb into the wood, which may cause splitting, leaks, or other severe structural damage.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To level a floor, start by removing the existing flooring. Then, mix leveling compound according to the instructions on the package in a large bucket. Once the compound reaches a creamy consistency, pour a thin layer into the sunken sections, then smooth out inconsistencies with a hand trowel. Work your way outward from the interior of the room, ending at the door so you don’t accidentally trap yourself in a corner. Finally, let your floor dry overnight before reapplying new flooring. To learn our Carpentry reviewer’s tricks on using a bonding agent to help the leveling compound last longer, scroll down!

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