ᐅ How do I install different types of flooring to achieve the same level?

Hello everyone,

In my new build, the screed was recently installed, but I overlooked the fact that the different floor levels have varying heights. The screed is at the same height in every room – side note: with underfloor heating installed.

Now my problem:
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and a bathroom, all accessible from the hallway. Tiles (with adhesive, approximately 15mm (0.6 inches) thick) will be installed in the hallway and bathroom. The three bedrooms are planned to have click vinyl flooring, with a suitable vinyl including underlay that is only 6.5mm (0.26 inches) thick.

This means there would be a step of about 8.5mm (0.33 inches). How can I avoid having any step, or at least limit the difference to 1–2mm (0.04–0.08 inches)?
- Adding extra underlay for soundproofing?
- Using a thicker vinyl floor? (but without losing heating efficiency with the underfloor heating)
- Raising the floor with leveling compound?

What is the most practical solution, or is there a better option?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Petey01 schrieb:

- add extra impact sound insulation underneath?

No

Petey01 schrieb:

- use thicker vinyl flooring? (but without losing heating efficiency with underfloor heating)?

No

Petey01 schrieb:

- raise the floor with leveling compound?

You can do that, but then you are limited to vinyl flooring. If you don’t like it and want tiles or hardwood, you’ll face the same problem again.

Petey01 schrieb:

what is the most practical solution, or is there a better one?

Install hardwood flooring. Similar price possible as vinyl, roughly the same height as tile coverings.

Hello,
use a transition strip.
You won’t even notice the 8.5 mm (0.33 inches) in real life.
Regards, olli

Hello questioner,
Usually, the screed height is specified to the screed installer directly during the planning phase (and since this is a new build).
However, there are reasons why this might not happen, for example, if the client plans to carry out the flooring installation themselves. In this case, you are “missing” about 8mm (0.3 inches) in three rooms, which are lower than the corridor.
The problem can be solved either in an unprofessional way or, following the professional standards (which I recommend), as follows:
Solution 1: The screed surfaces are ground down, vacuumed, primed, and then evenly leveled with a 7mm (0.3 inches) thick layer of filler.
Solution 2: The screed surfaces are ground down, vacuumed, primed, and then filled with a 2mm (0.08 inches) thick layer, tapering in a ramp-like manner to an additional 5mm (0.2 inches) over approximately 40cm (16 inches) in front of the doors.
Under no circumstances should additional underlay materials be used, as this can cause the locking mechanism of click flooring systems to disengage at various points when walked on.
This purely factual comment, referring to an undesired outcome, means that ultimately all elements will lie loose individually – which does not look good.

The right advice is to choose parquet flooring. Everything else is nonsense.

@ "Bookstar": With all due respect, the person asking the question described an issue regarding depressions of about 8mm (0.3 inches) in three rooms connected to the corridor. Aside from the fact that parquet flooring could fundamentally be a possible solution for floor coverings, the questioner certainly would not want a step height difference of 6mm (0.24 inches) — calculated as 14mm (0.55 inches) thick (standard) parquet minus the 8mm (0.3 inches) depression — instead of the depression itself. In other words, using parquet flooring would, simply put, be "jumping from the frying pan into the fire." To put it objectively: this would not be a real solution! The parquet suggestion would basically mean: "Replacing an 8mm (0.3 inches) depression with a usable floor level that is 6mm (0.24 inches) higher."
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KlaRa