Leveling floor – house not garage

[Beercan321]

I know this isn’t garage related but I’m hoping there are people here that could answer my question.

I inherited my parents’ house which I now live in. The house is almost 100 years old. Most of the floors in the house have a lot of bumps and valleys. The floors have been carpeted for years and the carpet needs to be replaced. The flooring under the carpet isn’t good hardwood so replacing the carpet is my only option.

Before I replace the carpet I want to level the floor as much as possible. I figured that putting down sub-flooring would help and also eliminate some of the floor squeaks. My concern is that sub-flooring won’t be enough to fix a few of the dips in the floor. My question is this - is there a product that I can skim-coat the floor with to level it before installing sub-flooring? If so, can someone tell me the name of a product or a manufacturer that sells it?

Thanks!

 

[rlitman]

Figure out the source of the dips, and fix them.

Are all the doors closing and fitting right. If doors are jamming up in the winter (don't worry about the summer, when they're just swelled from the humidity), then it's a sign that a part of the house is sinking.
Check the main supports in the basement for cracks or sagging.
Check the floor joists under a small dip for the same (and for termite damage).

If the entire room is on a slope, you can rip up the subfloor, cut full length wedge shaped shims to level the joists, and lay a new subfloor.

 

[jlckmj]

I just went through this in a 100 year old house.

It took me 3-4 days in the basement with adjustable columns, a couple of small beams, and a few cracked floor joists doubled up, to get them straight. I was able to get them within 1/4 in. throughout the whole house.

I have to admit that it was easier for me because I had taken off all the old plaster and lath. Plus, I removed all non load bearing walls, and the chimney first.

If you are going to try and straighten them without removing the plaster, you will have to do it slowly, like a 1/4in. at a time per week (or longer) or the plaster will crack and start separating from the lath.

All it takes is time, a good level, and some string to pull tight across the floors to see where the problems areas are, but it is not overly difficult if your foundation walls are still in good shape.

Jim

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I know this isn’t garage related but I’m hoping there are people here that could answer my question.

I inherited my parents’ house which I now live in. The house is almost 100 years old. Most of the floors in the house have a lot of bumps and valleys. The floors have been carpeted for years and the carpet needs to be replaced. The flooring under the carpet isn’t good hardwood so replacing the carpet is my only option.

Before I replace the carpet I want to level the floor as much as possible. I figured that putting down sub-flooring would help and also eliminate some of the floor squeaks. My concern is that sub-flooring won’t be enough to fix a few of the dips in the floor. My question is this - is there a product that I can skim-coat the floor with to level it before installing sub-flooring? If so, can someone tell me the name of a product or a manufacturer that sells it?

Thanks!

Thinset can be found in any home-center.
Go to the tile area and they will help you out.
Having a long straight-edge is helpful in seeing how big and deep these areas are.

 

[GDA]

I just spent 2 hours under my old brick Tudor which was built in 1921 doing some touch up levelling work - pier and beam foundation. I picked up 4 10 ton screw jacks at Northern Tool and used some 4x4 1/4 inch steel plates to use between the jacks and beams.

Another handy helper topside with a four foot level made the job go smooth.

If you can fix it at the ultimate base level it will probably be best in the long run.

 

[Falcon67]

As someone that has owned several old houses - level it, or call in the pro house levelers. It's money well spent. When the house is blocked and leveled, then deal with any floor issues directly. If the under lying oak plank is not in good shape, cut the boards out, fix any joist issues in that area and glue/screw down lumber or ply of correct thickness. Anything much less will make you sorry later when you have to deal with it again. If the house is not blocked properly, any floor fix or leveling compound will not last and you'll have to remove that and the floor to fix it. Been there, done that, more than once.