I have some customers who are wanting a nail-down hardwood flooring installation later this year. Their home was framed very poorly, with a subfloor that resembles waves. I would like to feather out the bad areas with a leveling compound before I lay my felt paper.
Some compounds seem very brittle, like they would shatter if a strip floor was cleat-nailed over them. Is this a problem, or is it no big deal?
The subfloor is very clean plywood. The lady pulled all the carpet and pad, then cleaned up the joint compound with wet cleaning. The original finishers made such a mess that none of the paint could find the ply to stick to, so it is cleaner than most floors.
Thanks in advance to the Breaktime brain trust!
Bill
Replies
I could be wrong, but I don't think you will find a nailable floor leveler. They are very hard, and usually in thin layers, so shattering is a real issue.
Better to pull up the plywood and shim the tops of the joists level.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Fast Eddie,Pulling up the subfloor is way too much work. Despite being bozons, the framers did use PL on the joists. The waviness is in several places, and the ply passes under partitions, etc. If nobody comes up with a better way, I can float the low spots with WEST System epoxy thickened with lightweight filler, either 407 or 410. I was hoping for a water-mixable compound that will do the job. Customers have 2 dogs, 2 cats. Reasonably rapid set time would also be a plus.I wonder if there is some sort of latexed mortar mixed with fine perlite that I could use? This does not have to be enormously strong, just sticky, stiff when cured, and nailable without blowing apart. I don't ask for much, now do I?Bill
Planipatch by Mapei is nailable leveller...not self leveller though
Thanks! That's what I was looking for. I don't need self-leveling for this job, just something I can float to a featheredge.Bill
it requires a liquid additive (that i think is white glue) made by Mapei...it smells but has no smell when it dries (promise) Tar paper under the floor will probably smell when the sun is on it....do not go that route...you know how people are these days, MCS and other assorted bs.
Good point about the felt and smells. I could just use red rosin paper. This is not over a damp crawlspace, so the power of bitumen is not required.Bill
How bad is it?
I've used 30# tar paper to get out some dips in floors. Cut it into strips, and make each layer a little bit wider than the previous one.
If its real bad, I once saw a guy use asphalt roof shingles to build things up. Then feathered with the 30#
A hardwood floor will bridge some gaps. Whatever you use will most likely be stiff enough that you don't have to make the sub floor perfect- just get it close.
as far as the cats and dogs just nail their feet to th floor for a day or two.
i lovemy job!
Bill,
Any good commercial floor leveling compound should work without causing a problem from chipping. At most, you might have to vacuum, brush, or blow a bit before you lay the next plank.
SamT
i've used the layers of felt idea several times... always worked perfect... just staple down as you go...
p