ᐅ Leveling a wood plank floor

Hello

What is the best way to level a wooden plank floor so that laminate planks can be installed on top?

In one room, it feels like there is a dip in the middle, and in the other rooms, the plank edges are raised.

What can be done to properly prepare the wooden plank floor so that everything is even and level, allowing for the correct installation of the laminate flooring?

Regards,
Maik

Hello,

there is special fiber-glass reinforced leveling compound for wooden floors.
A special primer is also necessary (e.g., PCI Vadian).
Beforehand, try to secure the wooden floorboards as firmly as possible by screwing them down.
The leveling layer should be applied at less than 1cm (0.4 inches) thickness.

Regards, Dirk

I checked again, and the floor slopes inward toward the center in almost all rooms, forming a sort of dip.

Aren't there wood-based subfloor panels that can be installed and supported underneath toward the center?

Best regards,

Maik

I did some research earlier.
They all say that the leveling layer should be done with loose fill. Is that difficult, or can a layperson handle it as well?

Maik

Hello Maiks,

You mentioned that all the floors slope downward toward the center, forming a kind of dip, and if I understood you correctly, you are dealing with a wooden beam ceiling.

I don’t want to alarm you, but before you start renovating the floors, I would suggest standing roughly in the center of the room and bending your knees up and down firmly.
If you notice the floor moving along with you, it is urgent that you consult a structural engineer and/or a timber specialist first. This would indicate that the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling joists may no longer be guaranteed. A possible cause could be woodworm or wood borer infestation, which sometimes occurs in older houses.
To check this, floorboards are usually removed at certain points (typically where the joists rest).

Please let us know the results of your "knee-bending test."

Best regards from the Osnabrück region

Hello Maiks,

My question was whether the floor beneath your feet moves or flexes when you bounce on your knees (up and down).
If the floor does flex, this could be a sign of damage or infestation in the wooden joists beneath the floorboards. In this case, other measures should be taken first before you start renovating.
If the floor does not flex, the joists appear to be in good condition. As a precaution, I would recommend checking the wall connections in specific spots.
If everything is fine there, you can begin the renovation, but keep in mind that adding extra floor screed or filling will also increase the load on the ceiling joists.

Best regards from the Osnabrück region