Leveling Floors

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Our building sags and the railroad apartment we live in has a rather pronounced slope from one side to the other (across the narrow dimention).  The big issue of building support was addressed with a new supporting beam installed but the sag remains after the fact.  I want to fix this problem, the flooring is original hardwood.  Any thoughts to cost?  I’d like to reuse the flooring if possible or something comparable in the hardwood realm.  I’m assuming the existing hardwood would need to be pulled up and the subfloor would need leveling?  The amount of space we are talking about is in the area of 450 sq feet. Thanks for any advice.

8104012

in Flooring 13 years and 6 months ago

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greenmountain | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Well said, fellow craftspeople.  And, I notice the mudset tile floor entrance to the kitchen, how it is elevated 2-3″ revealing the slope down to the left.  As many have described in the forum: cracked and loose tiles in these types of floors are common.  Alas, the leveling procedures described above are also the best for long-lasting tiled floors.

brucef | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Go with what Rick (just above) has said. This process is part art, part science. In a simplistic, one dimensional approach, it is possible to locate the highest point of all the joists. Assuming that that point cannot be lowered, it is necessary to raise all other points by varying amounts, till all locations are level. Problem is, this may lead to a 5″ step at a doorway from a hall. And redoing all the baseboards and door frames. What we do is double sister with 2X8’s or 2X6’s, nail first and then through bolt (nails don’t hold). We re-start at doorways, and sometimes shoot for flat, but not exactly level floors. Regardless, everything has to come up, finish floor, subfloor, everything. No it is a waste of time to think of saving the exsting finish floor. Hardwood floors are laid with serrated nails through narrow tongues that are designed to go down and stay. They will breakup beforecoming loose. At times when we have had to match old flooring, it takes us forever and more than half is destroyed. And we KNOW whatwe are doing.

Rick | 13 years and 6 months ago

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You would have to shim or sister the joists to make the floor level. The hardwood and any subfloor would have to be removed. If your hardwood is nailed T&G you may end up with considerable damage so you may want to replace it. Keep in mind that leveling the floor may effect doors and door frames depending on the location of the problem area. Best to get a few quotes.

levicapland | 13 years and 6 months ago

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I leveled my floors over the summer. There was a 14″ slope from the highest to the lowest point. The house had settled.  The beams floors and subfloors were taken up and the beams were shimmed in order to level the floor. To level the floor should cost you no more then $5-6 a sq ft without putting down the new flooring. I was quoted $6500 by a flooring company. After a $2500 deposit I fired the guy and finished off the leveling job for $400\. I had about 550 sq ft of leveling to be done. Job came out amazing.  Levi Capland
SoHo Appliances

JorgeF | 13 years and 6 months ago

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I think the problem is the joists not the floor or subfloor