How to Level a Floor Prior to Installation of Hardwood
- 1). Vacuum the floor thoroughly and then wipe it with a wet mop. Working on a clean, slightly damp subfloor will make the rest of the job much easier.
- 2). Find any dips by placing a straight edge (at least three feet long, preferably six) against the floor and then running it along the length of the floor until you find a dip.
- 3). Mark both sides of the dip with a pencil and then draw a circle around it so you can find where you need to use floor leveler later.
- 4). Continue steps two and three until you have found and marked any and all dips in the floor.
- 5). Mix cold water with the floor leveling compound according to the amounts specified by the manufacturer's packaging. Only mix enough for one gallon of floor leveler at a time because larger batches will dry before you have a chance to properly lay the leveler out.
- 6). Pour the floor leveler into the low areas.
- 7). Use a trowel to smooth out the floor leveler and make sure that it is on the same plane with the rest of the floor. Use a straight edge to make sure that you are spreading out the leveler correctly, but make sure to work fast, as the leveler will dry very quickly.
- 8). Repeat this for all dips in the floor.
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