Is it necessary to level the floor for laminate - leveling wooden and concrete floors, the necessary materials and optimal technologies. How to level a floor under a laminate: methods of leveling with concrete screed, self-leveling mixture, plywood or chipboard, putty Vyr

Kirill Sysoev

Calloused hands never get bored!

Content

It is useful for any craftsman to know how to level floors under laminate in an apartment. This expensive coating requires careful preparation to obtain a result that will please the owner for a long time. An uneven floor may cause the coating to swell and crack. It is important to consider the specifics of the procedure if you want to perform it yourself.

How to level a floor under a laminate

To know how to level a laminate floor in an apartment, you must first decide what to do. For those who want to do without the help of workers, for free results you will have to invest in materials. There are several options, the choice of which depends on the type of coverage:

1. If the subfloor in a private house is concrete, then it is leveled with a mixture of sand plus cement, or ready-made materials with increased noise and heat insulation properties.
2. If the floor is wooden, it is better to level it with plywood, but when it is old and rotten, you will need a concrete or dry screed to help the surface level itself.

Screeding is long and difficult to carry out, so you should take into account all the nuances of its implementation - raising the floor level, checking that there is no slope at the surface. In addition to plywood, wooden floors are leveled with cement-bonded particle boards or chipboards, which simplify the procedure. The leveling process includes the placement of screed beacons, proper preparation mixtures. The remaining processes are easy and require minimal knowledge.

Preparing the floor for laminate

This material is demanding in terms of use or maintenance, so it should be placed on a carefully prepared base. This process includes the elimination of crevices, bumps, cracks, and irregularities. If they are not removed, the coating will be damaged due to increased load in the areas of remaining defects. Also terrible for the material high humidity in the screed, rotten boards, cracks in the concrete base.

The preparation itself consists of the following steps:

• Dismantling the previous covering. It is not always necessary - parquet, tile, linoleum or carpet can become the basis for a laminate if their differences in height are minimal and amount to 3 mm per square meter. If the differences in level are higher, then the coating is removed as carefully as possible so as not to damage the screed. IN wooden floors Rotten and creaking boards are replaced.
• Alignment– carried out in accordance with the basis. A concrete floor can be leveled with a self-leveling screed, and a wooden floor can be leveled with plywood. Before these processes, you need to thoroughly clean the base so that there is no debris or dirt on it. If screeding is carried out, then you need to prepare a homogeneous mixture without lumps.

How to level a wooden floor under laminate with plywood

If you don’t know how to level a wooden floor under a laminate, then pay attention to plywood as the most affordable and easiest way. It does not require extensive knowledge of construction and is carried out simply and quickly. Thanks to this, leveling the floor with plywood becomes a quick process, and owners are able to get the desired result in a short time.

Alignment wooden floor under the laminate is produced using the following technology:

1. Determination of height differences using a laser or water level. This is done by measuring the entire room and placing marks on the walls. If differences exceed 3 mm, you will have to lay plywood to level and secure the base.
2. The simplest method of leveling is without installing joists (additional boards) and installing support bars. In this case, you need to make indents from the walls by 2 cm, lay sheets of plywood with a gap of 5 mm. With two layers it is done brickwork, and the fastening passes along the highest points, distributed evenly.
3. If the differences are large, up to 8 cm, then you will have to install mini-logs, mount slats and wooden boards to create a single network of supports. First they are done accurate calculations, measurements, the dimensions of the elements are calculated, then the gratings and sheets of plywood are laid on top. The logs are secured with glue or self-tapping screws, and the gaps between them are filled with sealant or sealant.
4. The third installation method is called lathing, using turned supports. First, they are cut from boards or plywood, and their thickness takes into account differences in height in the field. A square-shaped mesh is made from the supports, laid on the floor, covered with sheets of plywood. The sheets are fastened with self-tapping screws and dowels, and the top is coated with varnish.
5. To level the floor, plywood with a thickness of more than 1 cm, grades FK or FSF, which can withstand mechanical loads, is water- and wear-resistant, is suitable. It is better to choose the first grade, which does not contain defects and deformations, pre-treated with an antiseptic.
6. Before laying plywood, it is advisable to check the condition of communication pipes, if any, because after leveling the floor, access to them will be closed. Before laying, it is better to first fold the plywood sheets, see how they look, and only then proceed with the finishing fixation.

How is a plank floor leveled? Let's figure it out.

Laminate flooring should only be laid on a flat surface. Our task is to prepare the floor

Why is this necessary?

The floor is equal in order to:

1. The laminate did not break. The load on the laminate board can break it if there is a recess underneath it.
2. Locks lasted longer. When laminate flooring springs back a lot when you walk on it, this means repeated bending of the click lock at the joint of the boards. A lock made of MDF is not intended for this and is quickly destroyed in such conditions.
3. The floor did not creak when walking. On an uneven surface, the laminate moves relative to the base, and the boards themselves rub against each other.

Please note: if there is a plank floor under the laminate, it itself can be a source of squeaking. We will discuss the fight against it in the corresponding section of the article.

What are the irregularities?

There is no need to seal minor gaps or cracks in the concrete foundation just before. They won't affect him in any way.

Larger irregularities are dangerous for the flooring:

• Height differences between subfloor boards.
• Large potholes and depressions in the concrete floor.
• Height differences between floor slabs.
• A floor filled with concrete in a layer of variable thickness.

While bent boards and gouges are visible to the naked eye, large irregularities are often not so easy to notice.

How to check the levelness of the floor before laying laminate?

How to level the floor

How to level floors under laminate depends primarily on the material of the subfloor.

Concrete

Cement strainer

Large uneven concrete floors are traditionally removed using cement - sand screed. If the floor slabs are laid with a significant difference in height and you do not want to lay the floor on joists, there are simply no alternatives.

How to make a screed with your own hands?

1. Adjust the lighthouse slats to the required level. It could be metallic profile, and just a straight block. The distance between the beacons is about a meter.
2. Fill in ready solution and as a rule, align it with the beacons.
3. After two or three days, take out the beacons and, having primed them, fill the recesses with solution.

The main disadvantage of the method is the long waiting period before. The concrete will gain strength over the course of a month. In addition, if you do not live on the ground floor, waterproofing must be installed under the concrete. Otherwise, excess water in the solution will end up on the ceiling of the neighbors below.

Useful: if the size of unevenness and differences does not exceed two centimeters, it is easier to fill in a self-leveling solution, the so-called self-leveling floor.

Self-leveling floor is one of the simple ways level the surface

Dry screed

How to level a concrete floor under laminate without pouring mortar?

A dry screed will help.

1. The floor is covered with waterproofing. As a rule - with ordinary polyethylene film.
2. The corners are laid out along the perimeter edge tape. Isolon cut into strips will do. It will serve as a damper, dampening sounds between the floor and walls.
3. The actual dry screed is poured. As a rule, small expanded clay serves it.
4. Expanded clay is leveled according to the beacons strictly to the horizon.
5. A regular one is placed on top plasterboard sheet- in two layers, with overlapping seams. Of course, you can just as successfully cover the floor with plywood, OSB, and chipboard. The main advantage of drywall is its low price.
6. We fasten the covering along the edge of the seams of the top layer with self-tapping screws. Step for drywall - 5 centimeters, more durable materials can be tightened less often.

The floor is ready.

The great advantage of dry screed is that you do not need to wait for the concrete to dry and gain strength. The floor is immediately ready for laminate installation

Finally, concrete with minor unevenness can be leveled quite simply: lay plywood or OSB on 2 millimeter thick insulation without attaching it to the floor.

Tree

How to level the floor under the laminate if it is a plank flooring with joists?

The instructions depend on the size of the irregularities.

• Minor differences between the boards are compensated by thick, rigid boards.

A caveat: before laying it, be sure to arm yourself with a screwdriver and tighten the floor boards to the joists with self-tapping screws at least 75 millimeters long. This operation will help get rid of the squeak.

• If there are noticeable differences, the boards are again pulled through with self-tapping screws. What happens next depends on the tools available to you.
  You can, armed with an electric sander, level the floor boards. Before this, you will have to recess all the heads of the nails and screws by at least five millimeters.
  An alternative is to cover the floor again with plywood or OSB. The flooring is fastened with self-tapping screws in increments of 30 centimeters. In each new row, plywood sheets are laid with offset transverse seams so that the four corners do not meet at one point anywhere.

Covering uneven areas with plywood is another simple method of leveling the floor. In this case, do not forget to stretch the boards along the joists.

• Finally, if the boards have dried out, are screwed up or are rotten, half measures will not help. The flooring is completely removable. Instead of boards, a new floor made of plywood or OSB with a thickness of at least 18 millimeters is laid over the old joists, if they are in good condition.

Conclusion

You will find more information about floor leveling methods in the video at the end of the article. Good luck with the renovation!

When choosing laminate as a new floor covering, be aware that its installation requires an almost perfectly level base. If the surface has defects, depressions or bulges, over time the laminate locks may become loose, a squeak will appear, and then the panel may crack. When choosing a way to level the floor under the laminate: screed or plywood, take into account the design features of the floor, the effort and finances that need to be spent.

How to level a laminate floor

Methods for leveling a floor under a laminate vary depending on the starting conditions, whether the floor is wooden or concrete. Some methods are universal for both types of floors.

How to level a concrete floor under laminate

If the concrete floor is a slab/slabs or simply a poorly poured concrete base, it must be leveled. To do this, first of all we remove the old flooring, clean the floor from debris, concrete chips and dust.

Leveling with concrete screed

This method is used when the floor has significant defects and unevenness that cannot be corrected with half measures. The difficulty of leveling using a cement-sand screed lies in the need to install “beacons”.

A concrete screed is necessary if the floor has significant defects

To level the floor concrete screed:

1. Using a level, determine the highest point of the floor. We mark a line along the perimeter of the walls to which we will pour concrete and pull the cord.
2. We install special “beacons”. We fix them on the floor in slides concrete mortar, which we mix until the consistency of thick sour cream. We control the horizontal level of the “beacons” and correct it.
3. Mix the solution: 1 part M500 cement + 3 parts sifted sand + water. For better kneading, use a drill with a special attachment.
4. Fill the concrete screed to the marked level. Let's navigate by the "beacons".
5. We level the screed. We take the rule, press it against the adjacent lighthouse slats, and pull it towards ourselves. Excess mortar will spread into voids or collect at the end of the floor.
6. Using a needle roller, remove bubbles from the concrete by rolling it over the entire surface.
7. While the concrete dries for 2 days, constantly moisten the floor with water.
8. After two days we take out the beacons.
9. The voids formed after removing the “beacons” are filled with fresh solution and rubbed.
10. Cover the floor with polyethylene for 2 weeks.

After the screed has completely dried, after a couple of weeks, you can lay the laminate.

Leveling with self-leveling mixture

This method is used when the floor does not have too obvious defects or potholes, but there are minor irregularities and height differences. A maximum difference of 5 mm is allowed.

Leveling the floor with a self-leveling mixture is a modern and effective method

To level a concrete floor with a self-leveling mixture, you do not need to install “beacons”, you just need to:

• Use a level to determine the highest point of the floor. Mark a line on the walls up to which we will pour the mixture.
• Prime and waterproof the floor.
• Prepare the self-leveling mixture in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Important! Most often, to prepare a self-leveling mixture, you need to pour the mixture powder into water, and not vice versa.

• Pour the mixture into a small strip and smooth with a spatula.
• Knead the next portion and also pour and level.

Important! The prepared self-leveling mixture must be used within 15 minutes; after this time it will be unusable. That is why it is recommended to knead and pour it in parts.

• Wait until the mixture dries. It will take 3 days. All this time there should be no drafts in the room.

After complete drying, you can lay the laminate. If the floor humidity is less than 5%, then lay the laminate directly on the mixture. If more, then first lay a layer of waterproofing and a cork backing.

The so-called dry screed with plywood or chipboard can only be done if the ceiling height allows you to reduce the space by 10 cm, because plywood cannot be laid directly on a concrete base, but only on logs.

Leveling with plywood or chipboard - dry screed method

To level the floor with sheets of plywood or chipboard, perform the following steps:

1. Using a level, we make marks on the walls where the top of the floor should reach.
2. We install waterproofing, sound insulation and shock-absorbing lining under the joists.
3. We buy logs. Can be used adjustable joists, then we buy them ready-made. Or you can use regular ones wooden beams. Sizes 40*100 mm, 40*80 mm, 50*60 mm for a concrete floor and plywood sheets on top will be quite sufficient.
4. We lay the logs. The distance from the walls should be 3 cm, between the logs 40-50 cm.

Important! We constantly monitor the horizontal level of the lags. If necessary, place wedges in places of depressions, and trim off excess in places of convexity.

5. We secure the logs with anchors or dowels.

6. Lay sheets of plywood or chipboard. We make the gap between the sheets 0.2-0.4 mm. Places end connections sheets must fall in the middle of the lag.

7. We fix the plywood with self-tapping screws in increments of 50-70 cm.

An important feature of this leveling method is that the laminate can be laid immediately after all work is completed.

How to level a wooden floor under laminate

If the wooden floor has obvious dips, it must be disassembled and the joists adjusted. It might even be possible to replace some joists or boards. If the floor is relatively flat, it is enough to use one of the methods below.

Cycling

Scraping is the only leveling method that is suitable exclusively for wooden floors

Scraping a wooden floor will create a smooth surface for laminate flooring. It is done either manually, but this is too complex and time-consuming work, or using a scraping machine.

In order not to damage the machine knives, all heads of nails or screws must be “drowned” deeper into the wood using a hammer.

The scraping machine removes upper layer wood, creating a smooth subfloor. Then the surface must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and the laminate can be laid.

Leveling the floor with plywood or chipboard

The same method is used to level the concrete floor, which we have already described above. Design feature is that the logs must be laid on top of the wooden floor and secured with self-tapping screws. It is advisable to lay an additional layer of waterproofing, insulation and sound insulation between the joists.

Puttying with a mixture of sawdust and PVA glue

The method of leveling a wooden floor by puttying with a mixture based on PVA glue and sawdust raises the floor level by an insignificant amount

This method is the cheapest, but can only be used if the floor does not have significant flaws and failures.

Another significant advantage of puttying a wooden floor with a mixture based on PVA glue is that the rise in floor level in this case is insignificant.

Stages of work:

• If the floor boards have become “shrunken” and slightly deformed, bent, then it is necessary to use “beacons”. We install wooden “beacons” using a level. Secure with nails.
• Mix sawdust and PVA glue until the consistency of thick sour cream.
• We fill with the mixture all the space between the “beacons” and all the cracks.

Important! The PVA-based mixture shrinks very much, so we carry out the puttying procedure in two or three steps.

• After the glue has completely hardened, we lay 5 mm thin plywood. We secure it with countersunk self-tapping screws.

Having assessed the condition of the surface of your floor, you can choose any suitable way leveling the floor under the laminate shown above. The durability of laminate flooring will directly depend on the quality of the work performed.

If installation is to be done various types flooring, care must be taken to ensure that the surface of the base is perfectly flat.

Important so that the coating is laid efficiently. In addition, you need to take care of hydro- and thermal insulation and do everything for its long-term operation.

Below we will outline all the features of leveling a concrete floor before laying the laminate.

The need to level the base

So, why do you need to prepare the base before installing the laminate flooring? This procedure should be carried out in order to:

1. Protect the interlocking joints of individual boards. If on concrete surface there are shortcomings in the form of bumps and holes, this will lead to the connection failing and the distribution of loads will be incorrect. After some time, gaps form at the joints and cracks may appear on the laminate.
2. Reduce humidity concrete base, which can damage laminate flooring. Moisture tends to penetrate from under the screed through cracks and defects in the concrete. This is why it is necessary to conduct a thorough preliminary preparation such a basis.
3. Eliminate all existing irregularities, distortions, cracks, and potholes. Such defects lead to the fact that the laminate will be installed incorrectly, the quality of installation will suffer and the coating will last very little.

You can level a concrete base regardless of its quality. For this work, self-leveling mixtures, plywood sheets or cement-bonded particle boards are used.

You can level the concrete base yourself without investing extra money in it. Initially, it is necessary to thoroughly clean it of existing floor covering residues, dirt, debris, and dust.

It is advisable to use a vacuum cleaner, since a regular broom is not always able to remove everything unnecessary. Next, you need to inspect the base for cracks and other defects. They are masked with appropriate cement mortar.

Then a primer with a deeply penetrating effect is applied to the surface. If a screed is used, it will adhere securely to the base. Using a primer, you can reduce the absorbency of concrete, which will reduce the cracking of the floor.

If the question arises of how to level a concrete floor under laminate, then it is worth considering four types of work. Namely:

• Using leveling mass;
• Laying cement monolithic screed;
• Installation cement particle boards;
• Leveling by laying plywood.

Each method implies certain conditions implementation, and also has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The method of leveling the concrete base of a level with mass is not complicated and it will not take much time.

The dry mixture is diluted with water and has a self-leveling effect. She guarantees high-quality coating, makes it perfectly smooth, eliminating possible differences. It is easy to apply, which means anyone can work with it.

How to prepare leveling mass

The method for preparing mass level is quite simple. All proportions are indicated on the packaging of the mixture.

Important! To mix the components, you need to use a drill with an appropriate attachment. When preparing the solution, it is necessary to monitor the density of the mass and focus on specific tasks.

If it is necessary to make a thin leveling layer, the task of which is to hide all the unevenness, the thickness of the solution can be left medium. Such a layer cannot cope with leveling. In order for the floor surface to be perfectly smooth, the mixture must be uniform, without lumps.

Laying leveling mortar

Stages of pouring the leveling mixture under the laminated coating:

1. The mixture should be poured at the highest point of the base. Thus, it will spread over the entire surface on its own.
2. The solution should be spread with a spatula. You can use a toothed roller for leveling.
3. To remove any air bubbles that have formed from the surface, you need to roll over it. It does not take too much time for the mass to dry completely. However, in order for it to gain proper strength, you need to wait several days. During this time, the surface must be protected from exposure to heavy objects. You also need to take your time when laying laminate flooring.

Monolithic screed

This kind of screed is relevant if there is large differences. Before you start pouring the screed, you need to install guides and determine the level of the future floor using a pencil.

Between the beacons it is necessary to ensure a distance of 60-90 cm. These elements are placed on cement-sand mortar. The solution for monolithic pouring of floors under a laminate coating includes the following components: cement, sand and water in a ratio of 3:1:0.5.

Leveling the mixture is carried out by a rule. Once it dries, the beacons can be removed.

Laying cement bonded particle boards

DSP boards are great option for leveling floors under laminate. After the base is cleared of debris and dust, they are laid on the floor. regular boards made of wood.

Their fastening must be done taking into account the level of the future floor. Next, using self-tapping screws, you need to attach CBPB slabs.

Important! The resulting gaps should be sealed with an appropriate compound. A substrate is laid on top of the slabs. This completes the surface preparation and you can begin installing the laminate.

To level the floor before laying the laminated flooring, plywood sheets are often used. They need to be attached to logs in increments of 30 cm.

The plywood should be laid tightly. An additional layer of thermal insulation can be laid between the joists. If it is to be installed, a thick underlay should not be placed under the laminate. All it takes is thin layer with the task of depreciation.

Today, to level floors they resort to various methods. Which one should you choose? Where to start work?

Tools and materials for laminate flooring

To lay laminate flooring you need to prepare a set of tools and materials, which includes:

• Sound-absorbing substrate with a thickness of no more than 2 mm;
• Polyethylene, which is laid on a concrete screed. Necessary for the vapor barrier effect;
• Jigsaw;
• Pencil and ruler;
• Mounting clamp. It will be useful when laying the final row of laminate panels.

Underlay for laminate

To provide floors with a waterproofing layer, you cannot do without a substrate that is able to cope with such a task. A film layer of 0.2 mm or more is suitable as a substrate. Its installation is carried out with an overlap of up to 20 cm and is fixed properly.

Important! If the base of the floors remains wooden, or there is linoleum on it, the waterproofing layer must be abandoned.

However, the layer of soundproofing material in in this case let's say. In this case, it will be possible to solve two problems simultaneously: reduce the noise level and make the surface smooth. For these purposes ideal material will become foamed polyethylene with a thickness of no more than 2 mm. Fastening the material should be done end-to-end.

Laminate location

When you plan to lay laminate flooring yourself, as a rule, three options for its location are used. These include: laying parallel to the incident light from the window, perpendicular placement or diagonal. A commonly used laying method is the first one, as it makes the seams invisible.

When installing laminate flooring, you need to ensure that the patterns are positioned correctly. This especially needs to be controlled at the joints between walls and floors. Floors can “walk” or, as they say, “breathe”.

Important! The gap must be calculated using the formula: the minimum gap in millimeters must correspond to the width of the room in meters, which is multiplied by 1.5. It should be taken into account that the criterion for the gap distance depends on the humidity level of the room.

The higher the humidity, the larger the gap should be. Gaps should also be provided in the area where pipes and doorways are located. The method of laying laminate can be interlocking or special at 45 degrees. The first option is called the “click” method.

1. A series of spacer wedges are installed around the perimeter of the walls. They need to be placed taking into account the width of the gaps. After finishing work, these elements can be removed. You can start laying from the farthest corner of the room.
2. Installation of the first row begins with a board, to which end side The next one will be joined at an angle of 45 degrees. Then the boards are pressed tightly to the floor and the lock is latched.
3. The second row of laminate is assembled using an identical method. You need to latch it with front side. It is advisable to carry out such work with an assistant, as it involves some difficulties. Thus, all subsequent rows are laid.

Laying laminate using the locking method

The Click laminate installation system is in great demand due to the fact that it is quite lightweight. There are other options, for example “Lock”. Its advantages include only the affordable cost of laminate flooring with this locking system. It is very difficult to assemble it, so this should be done by professionals.

Adhesive laminate also has a reasonable cost, but its installation system is very complex. For those who have decided to carry out the work of laying laminate flooring themselves and are doing it for the first time, the “Click” method is suitable, which does not require much effort and is carried out quickly. You need to start laying the flooring from the far corner.

Important! Initially, the first panel is placed. Before starting work, you need to place wedges in the gaps. The joining of the panels should be such that the tenon of the first hits the tenon of the second. Next, the panels need to be adjusted with a rubber hammer.

Then the second row of laminate is installed. When resorting to the locking method of laminate flooring in the kitchen or hallway, all locks must be treated with sealant. Such actions will prevent moisture penetration.

After the laminate is laid, you need to prevent moisture from getting on it. To care for it, you need to use a semi-dry cloth.

Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings today. And it's not cheap. Therefore, it will be very disappointing if after some time the locks on it begin to come apart, or the floor begins to creak. The cause of such troubles is often an uneven floor. So if you want your flooring to be of high quality, before you start laying the laminate, you should level the floor. Below we will describe in detail how to level a laminate floor.

Leveling the floor under the laminate can be done in different ways.

Leveling the floor

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for certain conditions.

If the differences are insignificant, then you can use.

Leveling with cement-sand mixture

You can take it already ready mixture, or you can cook it yourself. The mixture contains cement, water, sand. The consistency of this mixture resembles sour cream.

• It is necessary to install level marks on the walls, which will be shown by a special laser or a simple level gauge;
• Lighthouse slats are installed on a clean surface;
• The screed is mounted between the guides, after which you need to level the solution using a lath;
• After about two hours, the floor must be scrubbed using a wooden float;
• After one day, the slats need to be dismantled, the holes that remain after them should be sealed with a solution that is similar to a screed.

Only a month after such leveling will the coating become as durable as possible. During the hardening period, you need to moisten the screed twice a day. It is also important to protect it from drafts; for this you can cover the surface with polyethylene. The process is complex and time-consuming, but relatively inexpensive.

Laminate can be mounted on a screed if its humidity is no more than 5%.

If this indicator is higher, then a waterproofing layer is laid and a cork backing is installed.

This one is very efficient, however, it will cost more than the previous one.

The method is very fast

Differences in the relief of such a floor can reach up to 0.5 centimeters.

• If you do not plan to fill such a mixture in several stages, it is not necessary to place beacons and mark the level. But it is important to mark the highest point of the floor to which you will pour the mixture. This can be done using a special laser;
• Before pouring, the floor must be primed and waterproofing applied;
• The self-leveling mixture is poured into a strip and then leveled with a spatula. It is better to knead the composition in small portions, since fifteen minutes after kneading it becomes less plastic. After you apply the mixture to the floor, you will need to take a break for 3 days. Avoid drafts and temperature changes in the room.

This is a dry method. The screed is created by logs, and then plywood is laid.

The design is being made

That is, a structure is made from timber, to which sheets of gypsum fiber, plywood and other materials are attached.

• First you need to set markers for a certain floor level;
• Next, a layer of waterproofing is laid on the rough base;
• After this, a surface system is made on joists;
• The logs are aligned horizontally. Then they are attached to the floor using dowels or anchors;
• The material is placed on top of the timber in several layers. Installation of panels and sheets is carried out using self-tapping screws.

Such leveling of the floor under the laminate will be advisable if the ceiling height is sufficient. So reducing it by 10 centimeters will not make much difference. Each of the described methods has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The dry method avoids wet processes, as when using concrete screed.

Moreover, unlike other methods, it is quite fast. When creating raised floors, the laminate is isolated from the concrete base. So in this case the floor will be much warmer. The raised floor allows you to hide communications.

Cycling

This method is considered very labor-intensive, but at the same time very effective. Sanding involves removing the surface layer. When removing such a coating, the surface is freed from oils, varnish and other dirt. Before you start sanding, you need to thoroughly clean the surface. It is also important to evaluate Current state surfaces. If there are sagging boards, it is better to replace them. After this, you need to do the following.

• Clean the floor and remove the protective layer from the coating using white spirit;
• Find out if there are communication systems under the floor. If they are, then it is worth attaching boards with screws that have access to the pipelines;
• Insulate the floor;
• If the heads of the nails protrude, they should be recessed;
• Apply putty.

After this, it will be possible to carry out the scraping itself.

Cycling

Sandpaper is inserted into the drum of the machine. After this, the drum starts. It is better to start work from a corner. Each subsequent track should overlap the previous one. Replace the sandpaper periodically as it will deteriorate. Also, don’t be lazy about emptying the dust bin.

This affordable way creating a flat floor, during which they lay. Such logs are created from strips of plywood. In this case, you can use sheets of different thicknesses. First, beacons are installed over the entire surface of the floor. Next, the process of laying the lag begins. At the same time, it is worth focusing on installed beacons. Since the edges of the sheets will fall directly on the joists, you will first need to spread plywood on the floor and outline it with chalk. Logs are placed along the drawn lines.

It is important to ensure that there is no sagging of the logs.

After you lay out the joists, you will need to wait some time if glue was used. After this, you can begin laying plywood sheets. They are secured with self-tapping screws.

Secured using self-tapping screws

The mounting points will need to be lightly sanded.

This method is the cheapest. In its technology, it is similar to the method using cement-sand screed. Before you start laying the laminate, sheets of thin plywood are laid on the sawdust-adhesive screed. The mixture itself is chalk diluted with PVA glue. If there are unevenness on the floor, then small sawdust is added to it.

A mixture of sawdust and PVA glue

The only disadvantage of this putty is that it takes quite a long time to dry due to the glue it contains. The method is old, but very effective. The coating will be durable.

Video

In this video you will learn how to properly level a laminate floor.
Thanks to this material get a lot of useful information.

Photo source: www.pol-comfort.ru; pol-inform.ru

Return