How to level a wooden floor under a laminate floor in an old house
Please tell me how to inexpensively level the floor. Old house (shingle, temporary building with an underground of the 50s, on the brick blocks installed bars). There is a wooden floor on the bars; 20 years ago, fiberboard was installed on the floor. The floor seems to be even, but when applying the level, we see differences from 2 mm to 7 cm. I want to lay the laminate, but I understand that the substrate cannot be dispensed with, over time the laminate will begin to creak due to the uneven floor. Tell me, what kind of leveling mixture can I pour on the fiberboard?
Svetlana
Expert Answer
Svetlana!
The fact that the wooden floor in your house has stood for more than half a century and during this time has not failed, indicates both the good quality of the wood itself and the dry atmosphere in the room. This means that the deterioration of ventilation of the boards, which cannot be avoided when coating with polymer and other airtight materials, is not associated with the risk of fungus and rotting of the wood. Of course, without a visual analysis of the condition of the floor, one cannot be 100% sure, but most likely, you can use the correction of its surface using a bulk mixture. A similar option is quite acceptable by the technology of self-leveling floors with a moisture content of a wooden base of not more than 10%.
For the conditions described by you, a quick-drying methyl methacrylate or polyurethane bulk floor of any brand, for example, Polymerstone-2, Vetonit, Elacor PU, NeoTEX, Rinol and others, is an excellent option. Of course, due to small changes in temperature and humidity in the room, the boards will “play” and the new coating may crack. Nevertheless, since it is planned to install a top coating of laminate on top, wet work can be carried out without a reinforcing mesh.
The rest of the alignment is performed according to the following scheme:
Using a spatula or a metal brush, clean the floor from cracked paint or varnish;
sand the wood with coarse sandpaper - small risks and scratches on the surface enhance adhesion;
skirting boards are dismantled, and large holes in the floor are sealed with wooden blocks;
all cracks and joints are cleaned of dirt, thoroughly degreased and sealed with mortar or putty. By the way, the composition can be prepared with your own hands by mixing PVA glue with sawdust;
exhibit beacons, which, on the basis of boards, plywood or chipboard (MDF), it is convenient to use wood screws;
then prepare a working solution and pour it on the prepared surface. It is better to pour the mixture in one step, in small portions, which gradually cover areas of about 2 square meters;
to remove air bubbles and uniform distribution over the surface, the composition is rolled with a special needle roller.
The installation of the laminate flooring is started after the self-leveling mortar is completely set - usually the manufacturer indicates the time it dries on the package.
