A guy at HD mentioned this to me, and it seemed like a good solution. I was never able to find a self-leveling compound that was approved for use on plywood or OSB. I’m installing Shaw Floorte Pro 7 Series resilient flooring. When laying a paver patio, it’s important to start with a firm base composed of compactable material, such as crushed limestone, topped by sand. cimmaryn. I am installing (floating) 3/8" engineered hardwood over a concrete subfloor with 1/8" underlayment. How to compact sand for paving. For concrete slabs: If there are only a few problem areas in the concrete, you can mechanically flatten them by grinding, bead-blasting, abrading, or using a patching compound. Active 1 year, 4 months ago. Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - How to flatten plywood subflooring for laminate? When we’re done it’s almost like concrete. If not, your floor covering, which is the solid hardwood, laminate, tile, or other exposed flooring that goes on top of the subfloor, will never be flat and level.This problem can be fixed, but it all depends on exactly what kind of uneven subfloor you have. OSB, or oriented-strand board, is an engineered wood material sold in sheets like plywood. I’m not sure I can sand it down enough either, since the subfloor is only 3/4” OSB. It is composed of large wooden flakes or … Fixing grade on concrete garage floor? This long stretch of wood should uncover any uneven spots, including dips, hills, and gullies. It’s LVT. If you vacuum, use only an industrial-type vacuum. The sand would go down under the underlayment (15# felt). Framing, Flooring and Sub-Flooring - What to use to sand down subfloor - I am putting in laminate and need to flatten my subfloor. The quality product we use can be poured from any depth between 1.5″ to a smoothed-out feather edge, making it a suitable choice for preparing just about any subfloor for its new flooring. Wall grout that has no sand works fine for shallower depressions. Hot Network Questions Can flint be obtained from gravel that a player placed when it is mined? In order to properly install hardwood floors, the plywood subflooring must be even, or level. Use an underlayment, floor leveler or floor patch product to fix low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor.. An underlayment is a thin layer of material sandwiched between two other materials. Using a truly straight (This in itself could be a monumental problem. Is there any way I can flatten it? Low areas that are less than 1/4-inch deep can often be filled with building paper. Shimming the subfloor is a common method to flatten to required tolerance. Can some of you guys tell me how to go about leveling a 3/4" osb subfloor? Gravel and sand compacts best with a drum roller or a vibrating plate compactor. Can You Use a Coarser Grit for Problem Floors? I have a few concerns 1) Will the subfloor dry out adequately under the bottom plate (since they are sandwiched together)? Lay it on the floor and have a look at the edge of the subfloor. You may have to fill a hole with filler a second time after the initial sanding. When the laser screed or ready-mix trucks drive across it they won’t even leave tracks. Viewed 194 times 1. Should I let it air dry out or (because it’s such a small section) use a skill-saw to cut out the exposed areas of plywood and replace with new pieces? When furnace Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level. Using shingles to flatten concrete subfloor. Probably the most common method of shimming is using underlayment material to build slight elevation gains. Fine sand mixed with Portland cement works well to help build up low spots on concrete floors that are 1/8-inch or deeper. Check to see the maximum permitted thickness of your compound. Typically, the floor must be level and uniform within 3/16 inch every 10 feet. Asphalt shingles work really well to fill low spots in wood floors when you're installing 3/4-inch traditional hardwood flooring that will be nailed to the wood subfloor. You said you have a basement so I assume it is a plywood or OSB subfloor. Using a pen or a marker to write directly upon the existing subfloor or upon masking tape if preferred. Yes, sand down those butts and joints and any high spots. Has anyone here ever used (or heard of using) sand to level a floor to lay down hardwood? Shimming may consist of many variations in technique and a multitude of products to achieve the same goal. Depending on the situation, you can either sand down areas of the subfloor that are too high, or install shims beneath the subfloor so that the entire floor is brought up to the same level. Also, patch any deep holes with concrete patch and allow it to dry. Self-leveling cement is a great asset when creating a truly flat subfloor and is … We talked about trying to flatten out the area in the kitchen in relationship to itself and flattening the entrance area separately (so they’d each be flat but on entirely different planes). Also check the subfloor for squeaks and refasten as necessary before installing the Underlayment. Make sure the caulk is level with the wood. I have raised the low spots, now I … Vacuum the subfloor and make sure that all debris, no matter how small has been removed from the surface of the subfloor. How to Sand OSB. For background informa-tion on buckling of panel sheathing, see APA Technical Note: Buckling of Wood Structural Panel Sheathing, Form D481. 1. Carefully vacuum all sanding … please list all available material you know of for doing something like this, so far I have heard of 15lb builders felt. These conditions will … Using shingles to flatten concrete subfloor. Ask Question Asked 1 year, 4 months ago. A: High areas, such as peaked joints in the subfloor or other ridges in the wood subfloor can be power-sanded or planed. Using caulk, fill the seams present in the mosaic layout of your subfloor. Cupped planks will flatten as they dry unless they have splits, so wait for them to stabilize.The time to refinish your wood flooring is after it’s flattened as much as it will.If you sand off the cupped edges before it flattens, you could end up with a scalloped floor in winter after it dries. Sand away high spots using a belt sander or flooring edger. 11 years ago. Use only medium to fine sandpaper grit so you don’t sand too much off your wood subfloor. Subfloor materials including plywood, oriented strand board and, to a lesser degree, particleboard, are fairly stable, and any gaps that might develop between sheets are unlikely to widen. If you're gluing the flooring down, you can use a cementious patching compound. Can I use self leveling concrete to flatten subfloor? Hardwood floors add style and a distinct look to a room. I had heard years ago that it works well. If there is any grease, you’ll need to use a degreaser to remove it before leveling. It will probably be cheaper to rent a sander than to buy one. - Hello, I have installed laminate flooring in 2 … If it has been drum-sanded eight times already, you’re probably walking on rice paper now. I’ve read that laminate flooring can only be installed over flat subfloors. The easiest way to check the flatness of your subfloor is by using a straight 2x4, about 10 feet long. Also, the plywood subfloor is only 1/2", which is smaller than the minimum for Ditra, which I was planning to use … Each of these tools can be rented at most home improvement stores, and can help to make your wood subfloor level. For that reason, any subfloor filler you use does not have to be particularly elastic. “We use an 8-ton rubber-wheeled drum roller,” says Lloyd, “and compact to 98%--both the subgrade and the subbase. My planet has a long period orbit. A subfloor is meant to be flat and level. Has anyone used sand to flatten a subfloor. Sanding the subfloor can remove minor swells or high spots in the wood, but any low spots in the floor must be filled in order to level the plywood. If stapling/nailing, you can layer up asphalt felt in 15 or 30 lb. How To Prep a Wood Sub Floor. Using metal pipe and a screed board to even the sand base for a paver patio. Sand to level subfloor? Q: I have a plywood subfloor with a few high/low spots. Not only would I advise against sanding, I would advise you to lay down all-new floors! For this reason, when you are preparing your bed for pavers, it’s critical you compact the bottom layer of dirt or soil before you put down a layer of sand for your pavers. There is a slope towards the hallway and kind of a “bump” at the other end. The sub floor is kind of messed up. It's not a big bathroom by any means, but there is a large high spot in the middle of the bathroom over one of the joists, too high to just plane or belt sand down I would say. Prepping Subfloor for Luxury Vinyl Flooring, Vinyl Planks, Sheet Vinyl, Peel & Stick Vinyl. Yes, but you need to look at your floor’s history a bit. 6.5mm. It's used to help insulate, absorb sound and reduce wear on your floor. Check your wood flooring manufacturer’s recommendations and sand any high spots with a concrete grinder. Work slowly, and check the floor with a level as you work. Pourable self-leveling products help to flatten and level a wood subfloor or a concrete slab before the tile is installed. If I lay roofing felt to that thickness I have found that it makes noise underfoot when compressed. Anyways, what do you guys think my plan of action should be? the floor, and fasten the subfloor to them with screws or nails as necessary to flatten panels. So, I would like to shore up the two areas (about 12-15 inches by six feet each. Pinpoint and notate the specifics of any gaps that exceed 1/8” over a six foot radius. Standard specifications for subfloor flatness range from 1/8” of an inch in a six foot radius up to 3/16” of an inch in a ten foot radius. From what I understand, it can only be used on a completely solid surface like concrete, because the flexing of a plywood subfloor would cause it to crack and/or lift. Laying a paver patio makes a great DIY project that can improve the look of your yard and increase the value of your home. 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