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Basement bedroom floor not level. Help

Utahtrapper

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Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
107
Location
Sandy Utah
13 by 13 bedroom downstairs. Concrete floor.
It has a 2 1/2 inch difference from inside wall to the outside wall. I will be putting a 3/4 hardwood floor down.
Was going to use a self leveling compound "LevelQuik RS 50 lb". Self-Leveling Underlayment but that will get expensive and most suggest no more than 1 1/2 thick.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. A friend said to lay some 3/4 inch plywood where the difference is the greatest but how should I attach it if it is even a good idea?
 
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larry4406

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Jan 27, 2006
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Location
Northern Virginia
In the new homes the company I work for builds, we use the QBW warranty http://www.qbwc.com/

Their Limited Warranty Agreement includes performance standards on virtually all aspects of new construction. For concrete slabs, it can be out of level by as much as 1/4" in 32 inches and still be considered to be "within spec". Your 13' dimension would mean not more than 1.22" at this pitch so you are at least twice.

Does the floor feel sloped to you as you walk it or only by measurement? If only by measurement, then I would be inclined to leave it alone and just make sure it is reasonably flat which is different than level.

Does it slope down and away from where your entrance door to the room will be? If if does, then you could use a self leveling compound. Had a commercial project once where the future computer server room was out of level by about 2.5" over 50'. I think the GC used an Ardex self leveling product.

Is the door entrance to the room the low spot? If so I think you are SOL unless your bust up the slab on the high side to lower it. A 2.5" threshold at the door would be a trip hazard.
 
Last edited:

The Cobbler

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Oct 24, 2013
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Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
I would be more concerned with "flat" than "level"
Years ago I worked in a less than 1 yr old house, one of the beams was set 1-1/2" higher than the rest, the whole house was out of whack. the owners did not realize it until we started to hang drywall on the basement walls and noticed it.
 
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Joined
Feb 7, 2018
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Ridge, New York
I agree, flatness is more important and if you don't feel the slope as you walk, let it be. If you do feel the slope as you walk, hey its just a basement anyway. Also, I wouldn't use real wood flooring in a basement.
 

Armorpoxy

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Joined
Aug 18, 2013
Messages
3,735
Location
NJ
Hi
We do a lot of self leveling via our Install Div.

The way to keep the cost down is to get inexpensive pea gravel and lay that out in the areas where its deepest and feather the gravel to where it gets to about 1/2, since you do need enough material so it works.

The gravel takes up the space and then pour self leveler out and level the floor. This process can keep the cost down by 50% or more in leveler.
 

Kaizen

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Jan 9, 2015
Messages
6,948
Location
New England
Before you knew about the level issue how did you plan on laying sold wood floor? Assume you are going to use sleepers?


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