How do you install hardwood floors on uneven concrete?

How to Lay a Hardwood Floor on Unlevel Concrete

  1. Lay a 8- to 10-foot piece of lumber on the concrete floor. …
  2. Measure the depth of the lowest area of the dips. …
  3. Slide the lumber across the floor to find and mark all the low spots.
  4. Vacuum the floor to remove all dirt and cobwebs.

How do you fix an uneven floor before laying hardwood floors?

When you install wood floors on uneven surfaces, you must first use a leveling compound. The leveling compound is not difficult to use. You must locate the low spots on the floor using a 4-foot level, and then fill those areas with the compound.

What do you do if your concrete floor is uneven?

With uneven concrete floors, the quickest and most effective remedy for the situation is to use a self-leveling compound that fills in the low spots and makes the floor completely level. Floor topping can fix a great many problems floors to create an aesthetically pleasing surface for floor polishing.

How do you level a floor before installing hardwood floors?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But it should be perpendicular to the floor joists. If it won't be you can add another plywood layer to strengthen the floor. Next prep the doorways stack. A piece of flooring on the underlayment.

Can you put hardwood on an uneven floor?

Installing Hardwood on Uneven Floors



In order to properly install hardwood on uneven flooring, the floor itself has to be smoothed out. This can be done through the use of underlays and re-surfacing. For concrete surfaces, sanding and polishing may be required.

How do you install subfloor on uneven concrete?

6 Ways To Fix Uneven Subfloors Or Concrete Slabs

  1. Use Self-Leveling Concrete/Underlayment. How to Self Level Concrete Floors Like Pros – Self Leveler. …
  2. Install A Flooring Underlayment. …
  3. Grind Or Sand The Subfloor. …
  4. Replace The Subfloor. …
  5. Fix Your Floor Joists. …
  6. Stabilize Your Foundation.


How do you level a concrete floor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Use along a level or a level and a straight edge to work out the overall. Slope. Once you're happy that the floor is ready for leveling seal the surface with a diluted PVA adhesive mix.

Does underlayment help with uneven floors?

The sub-floor is the very base of support for any flooring. An uneven sub-floor can cause issues to arise prematurely even if the floors are top-notch. Underlayment can serve as a relatively simple fix to an uneven-subfloor.

How do you transition an uneven floor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It's not there so the way you do this is just to drop this in and now with it that way you have a quarter of an inch expansion gap on both sides right.

What is the cheapest way to level a concrete floor?

There are self-leveling coatings designed to fill gaps and cracks. You could also try using vinyl floor tiles to make the transition more gradual. Probably the easiest (and cheapest) thing to do would be to get a big diamond grinding wheel and bevel down the lip.

How level does concrete floor need to be for engineered hardwood?

Concrete subfloors should be as flat as possible in accordance with the manufacturer’s tolerances (an eighth-inch across a ten-foot area is a good industry standard). * Concrete floors also need to be at the manufacturer’s specified relative humidity (RH) level to the flooring you’re installing.

Can I install hardwood over concrete?

If you have a concrete slab main floor or basement, you may be wondering if it’s possible to install hardwood flooring directly on top of the concrete. The short answer is yes.

Can you lay real wood flooring on concrete?

Laying a solid wood floor over concrete



Both solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring can be laid onto a concrete subfloor. The installation process is slightly different for each, but by following the correct steps it can be done without any problems.

How do you install engineered hardwood over concrete?

How To: Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring on Concrete

  1. Test the Humidity of the Concrete. …
  2. Prepare the Floor and Let Planks Acclimate. …
  3. Spread the Adhesive with a Notched Trowel. …
  4. Laying Down the Flooring Planks. …
  5. Apply Pressure to the Flooring. …
  6. Wait and Finish (If Needed)


Do I need a vapor barrier between concrete and wood flooring?

A common question that DIYers ask is, “I’m installing a new floor on-grade, a cement slab. Do I need a vapor barrier for hardwood floors?” The answer is YES! Moisture can destroy hardwood flooring. It causes cupping, warping, and even mildew if not treated.

Is it better to glue or nail engineered hardwood flooring?

If you have a concrete subfloor, then you should glue your hardwood down, if you have a wooden subfloor then you can choose either method of installation. However, if you are planning on fitting your hardwood floor to joists, then you will need to secret nail them into place.