Drop-Down Flooring Techniques

Drop-Down Basics

• A drop-down floor starts out lower than the adjoining floors, because its base is thick. When the drop-down floor is finished, it will be flush with the adjoining floors. The drop-down technique is used specifically for concrete-based installations, such as flagstones and ceramic tile.

Felt Paper and Chicken Wire

• All drop-down floors need a primary layer of felt paper and chicken wire before the concrete mud mixture can be packed into place. The felt paper acts as a moisture barrier. The paper is put down first and stapled into place. The chicken wire comes next. The chicken wire helps to hold the mud in place once it cures.

Mud Base

• Tile floors should be installed on top of concrete. Cement board and thinset mortar are the modern variation of the mud base used in drop-down flooring. The mud base needs to be at least 1 1/2 inches thick to provide a solid base.

Overall Thickness

• The thickness of the material you are using must also be factored into the depth of the drop-down floor. Most drop-down floors are about 2 inches lower than the surrounding floor, but they can go as deep as 3 inches. The mud needs to be at least 1 1/2 inches thick. The material may be anywhere from a quarter inch to an inch thick. The mud bed can be adjusted in thickness so that the finished floor is flush with the adjoining floors.