How to level a wooden floor?
Hello! Help us solve the problem: we have an uneven, wooden floor. We put OSB, but there are still irregularities, albeit less. What can be done in this situation?
Raisa
Expert Answer
Hello, Raisa.
If you want to do everything right, then OSB sheets will have to be removed and the wooden base carefully prepared. Before you begin to align it, you should evaluate the degree of unevenness. If the height difference between the individual boards is up to 10 mm, then it can be eliminated by puttying with a special compound. For the manufacture of putties, a mixture of fine wood sawdust is used with any construction adhesive such as PVA, KS, Bustilat or another, which forms a polymer film after drying.
If the irregularities exceed 10 mm, then you will have to replace OSB with thick plywood (perhaps even installing it on mini-logs) or make a screed with cement-sawdust mortar on the old wooden floor. The latter method can only be carried out if there is confidence in the strength and reliability of the old foundation. OSB tiles can only be covered again after the leveling layer has completely set.
In the case when it is not possible to remove oriented particle boards, you have two options that are used depending on the type of finish. If the floor will be covered with a laminate, then the filler mixture described above can be applied, previously having been treated with an OSB primer.
Under linoleum, carpet and other non-rigid materials, the base is leveled using special dry mixtures with plasticizers and other impurities. Thanks to them, the screed acquires the necessary strength and elasticity, necessary so as not to crack during small deflections. The Vetonit 3300 composition received good reviews, which eliminates bumps up to 1 cm high. Remember that before using self-leveling mixtures on OSB, it will be necessary to fill a reinforcing fiberglass mesh.
