What Do I Use To Level an Uneven Floor?

Small Dips

• Small dips in most flooring materials can be filled in with basic filler material. Use floor patch or concrete leveling compound for proper adhesion to concrete or cement floor surfaces, while wood filler provides the best filler for wood floors. With either type, fill in small dips by applying the compound to the floor surface where the dip occurs and dragging a straightedge over the surface to skim away excess compound.

Completing Filled Areas

• Small filled areas in an uneven floor surface generally require some finishing. To ensure that the area sits level with the surrounding floor, use a builder’s level to check the floor for slope and, if the filled spot sits too high, sand it down with sandpaper until the level shows that the floor sits flat and level. Though leveling compound blends in well with concrete, to make it match cement or wood filler you may need a little paint or stain.

Sloped Concrete or Cement

• When dealing with heavily sloped concrete or cement floors, and not just small dips in the floor surface, the most efficient way to fill in the low areas of the floor is to use a self-leveling compound. Unlike leveling compound, which requires manual application to each area, self-leveling compound has a thinner composition that enables it to run evenly across the floor surface. When you pour the self-leveling compound on the concrete or cement, it settles into the low spots. Use a broom to spread the leveling compound as evenly as possible over the floor surface, then let it further level itself.

Sloped Wood Floor

• The most time-consuming type of uneven floor to fix is a sloped wood floor. To level an uneven wood floor, you must remove the floorboards and fix the floor joists that support the boards. You do this in one of two ways: sand down the joists so they sit level with the lowest points on the joists, or cut wood pieces to build up the floor joists to the highest points in the joists. Generally, you should not sand down a joist if it will make the joist considerably narrower because this weakens the floor.