How To Properly Level The Base Of A Concrete Floor

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

The ways
Tools used
Floor preparation
Floor level measurement
Beacon profiles
Concrete screed
Using self-leveling compounds
Plywood alignment

When you get into any room, your gaze just asks to fall to the floor. But not always, even in a beautiful and comfortable room, a crooked base appears, which has a huge number of flaws. For this reason, the finishing of the floor should be given maximum attention in the very first stages. Before laying any kind of flooring, you should think about how to level the floor in your apartment.

The ways

If the alignment work is done independently, then you can choose one of the main methods:

Pouring concrete screed.
Use of plywood sheets.
The use of self-leveling compounds.

leveling the floor in the apartment

Each of these methods of leveling the floor in an apartment has both its advantages and negative manifestations. In addition, the technology has its own subtleties and nuances, which are best familiarized with before starting installation work in the room.

Tools used

The floor cannot be leveled if the appropriate work is not done. But at the same time, it is worth remembering that for work you should stock up on the appropriate tools. Before you start leveling the floors in the apartment, you need to know about the complete set, which you definitely cannot do without.

Roulette. With its help, the required parameters are measured in the pouring room, the lines are marked.
Steel brush. Allows you to remove the solution from the slats after it has been applied and set.
Putty knife. For leveling on the surface of the primer.
A hammer. It will help to remove the bumps present on the base of the floor.
Level (water or laser).

leveling the floor in the apartment

But the specific type and version of the screed will require the use of a different list of tools. The above list of tools is among the mandatory ones, without which you cannot begin the installation work on leveling the floor in the apartment with your own hands.

Floor preparation

The base for the subsequent leveling screed must be carefully prepared. The focus is on the surface when dismantling partitions. The floor must be strong, otherwise you will have to remove the floor screed.

Using a vacuum cleaner removes all existing dust and minor debris. Do not forget about the primer layer, which increases the adhesion level of the mortar or other mixtures. In this case, the surface of the new floor will adhere better to the old one. The main thing is to choose the right mixture for the primer, as well as use the appropriate leveling tool.

Floor level measurement

The rough base, as well as its curvature, will affect the general condition of the floor after screed. For this reason, the floor horizon should be measured. This will require the use of special tools such as a hydro level or a laser level. For small spaces, the usual building level is also suitable. But the length will not always be sufficient for a full measurement. In this case, a rule can be placed under it, on the top of which a level is placed.

For large areas, the measurement will be made at the hydro level. But here two people have to join the work. One installs the flask in one part of the wall of the room, and the other on the opposite. In this case, airing of the water level tube should not occur. The result will be displayed incorrectly immediately.

Convenience and ease of use is a laser level. The measurement process takes less time and the result becomes more accurate. The error here is permissible within 1 mm for each meter of the room. In the process of working with a laser level, protective glasses should be used, as it negatively affects human vision.

The level is one of the geodetic instruments. But in his work must be certain knowledge and experience. Such a tool is suitable for large-scale construction.

When making measurements, the first thing to do is to set the "zero" level.

The zero level defines the general floor level for all rooms in the apartment. To determine it, one should take into account not only the thickness of the screed, but also additional layers, the use of flooring. If you take a different base of the floor for finishing, then the height difference can reach up to 10-15 mm in some rooms.

If there is a curved base of the floor, then even the walls cannot be brought out exactly. Do-it-yourself floor screed in an apartment is performed for a long time. Therefore, it should be attributed to it with full responsibility.

Beacon profiles

When the surface is brought to a normal state, you can proceed to the next stage. Using the building level, beacons are installed.

Their number will depend on the length of the level and the rule used in the work. To fix them, it is best to use the same mortar, the same consistency that will be used later to fill the screed.

The solution under the beacons must definitely dry before the next step. Otherwise, the floor will become new, but it will not acquire evenness. There are nuances of working in rooms with plasterboard partitions. They should be covered with plastic foil so as not to absorb moisture. The subsequent actions will depend on the specific method chosen for leveling the floors in the apartment.

Concrete screed

The concrete screed in the apartment is made according to all technology requirements. A mixture of cement and sand in strict proportions can serve as a solution. In addition, we must not forget about the required amount of water. Usually sand and cement are mixed in proportions of 3 or 4 to 1. Such a solution can be used not only in private construction, but also in apartment buildings. A concrete floor has the main advantages - durability and strength.

In the process, two stages of work are distinguished:

Installation of beacons, which we talked about earlier.
Direct filling of the solution, as well as its smoothing.

You can improve the solution somewhat and add sawdust to it in a ratio of 9 to 1 portion of cement. The result is a very warm base that will also "breathe". But there is no need to talk about getting a really flat surface. Large fragments of sawdust will float to the top of the fill. It can even break the screed as it dries. What kind of floor screed to make in an apartment should be decided by each performer, taking into account the surface features and the desired result.

One day is given for filling. This is necessary for the strength of the base for subsequent flooring. In this case, the type of concrete screed does not matter.

Experts do not recommend pouring mortar on the ground in private houses. Before you start, you need to make preparatory measures, namely, fill it up, fill it with soil and tamp it.

A concrete floor screed can be not only a rough floor, but also be its finish. Everything will depend on the requirements for floor leveling.

Using self-leveling compounds

Self-leveling compounds are used in construction and renovation to create a truly smooth, even surface. They can level not only concrete, but also sand and soil coatings. Working with ready-made mixtures is very simple. The required amount of water is added to the finished powder in proportions. All these subtleties are spelled out on the instructions from the manufacturer.

The finished mixture can easily penetrate the existing cracks and crevices in the base. But for this it is best to first expand them with a chisel or other tools. In addition, this mixture should not be self-spreading. To smooth it over the entire plane in the room, a building rule or a spatula is used. Air bubbles can form on the surface, which appeared during the mixing process. To get rid of them, a needle roller is intended, which also plays the role of an equalizer.

No need to think about how to reduce the cost of leveling the floor. After all, the base should be not only even, but also strong, strong. Only in this case will the service life and subsequent decoration of the entire room increase. In addition, buying cheap materials or materials at a discount does not always lead to a high-quality result.

Plywood alignment

A method with vast experience in application and use - plywood sheets to create a flat surface. In this case, you can not only glue the plywood together, mount it with or without a lag, but also use "adjustable" plywood. There should be no questions about how to level the floor in an apartment with your own hands using plywood. The process is quite simple and does not require serious knowledge.

When gluing, the subfloor must be flat. For this, a concrete screed is poured qualitatively. After that, the usual gluing of plywood to the base is carried out. To give the material strength, dowels or anchors are used. This gives the answer to how to level the concrete floor in the apartment.

As for the pre-installation of the lag, the floor is usually done from scratch. Lags are attached using a level, choosing exactly the height. Self-tapping screws are used for fastening.

A new way is "adjustable" plywood. Sheets of material are laid out on the floor in which holes are drilled. These holes are marked on the base of the floor, into which anchors with washers and nuts are subsequently screwed in. A level is used for the required floor height. After determining all points horizontally, sheets of plywood are laid out on the anchor, fastened with nuts. Protruding metal rods may remain. They can be easily cut with a grinder. The second plywood layer is laid on top of the first and fixed with glue. Here logs are not used, but the subsequent surface becomes perfectly flat. You can start laying any kind of flooring. It is these options for leveling the floor in the apartment that can be classified as progressive and in demand.

A very difficult question about the best way to level the floor. The above methods have their own characteristics. It is from this that it is worth moving away, choosing a specific option for work and creating an even foundation.

If you need to get an answer on how to level the floor in an old apartment, then there is only one answer - to dismantle the old coating and carry out all the work from scratch. After all, partial surface repair can lead to the appearance of other defects, as well as damage to communications in a separate area. In the future, you will have to disassemble the flooring again and remove the screed. The costs are not worth it.