How to Make Flooring the Same Height

Wooden Floor

• 1

  Remove any tacks or nails from your floor using a claw hammer. If any nails or tacks refuse to come out of your floorboards, hammer them beneath the surface.

• 2

  Set up your floor sander according to the manufacturer's instructions and put on your face mask and safety goggles. The sand particles omitted during sanding can damage your health if breathed.

• 3

  Start in one corner of the room and work in a straight line in the direction of your floorboards. Make sure you keep your sander moving at all times. When you reach the opposite side of the room, remove the sander's abrasive bottom from the floor and move onto another section of flooring.

• 4

  Work around the perimeter of the room with a corner sander once you're finished with the floor sander.

• 5

  Apply self-leveling wood filling compound to any serious troughs that cannot be sanded down. The method for doing so will depend on the self-leveling compound you're using. Check the manufacturer's instructions for details.

Concrete

• 6

  Sweep and vacuum your concrete floor. Then, clean it thoroughly with warm water and detergent.

• 7

  Apply a coating of latex primer to your concrete floor with a brush or roller. You should use a primer that's been recommended by the manufacturer of the self-leveling cement you're using. If the concrete you're working with is particularly porous, apply an additional coat of primer.

• 8

  Mix your self-leveling cement according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some self-leveling compounds designed for concrete floors come premixed. Check your product's instructions for directions.

• 9

  Pour the self-leveling cement into the low points of your flooring.

• 10

  Level the cement with a trowel and allow it to dry. Drying times will vary depending upon temperature and humidity, but you should be able to walk on your prepared floors after 12 hours.