Levelling floor before laying vinyl flooring

[sandblast]

Hi all!

I am preparing this concrete floor in my first floor apartment, before laying sheet vinyl flooring throughout.

In the kitchen and living room there is a channel containing pipes, covered by some timber boards. The boards mostly sit perfectly flush with the concrete with no more than a 1mm gap, but here, the board is sunk about 4mm below the concrete. If I lay the vinyl flooring over this, it’ll likely show up over time, as well as looking and feeling a bit naff.

What is the best way to get this flat? I was thinking of just filling with toupret, lifting the height of the board to meet the concrete. Will this work?

When levelled I could score along the join for easier lifting of the boards, should a leak occur in future.

Or should I look to raise the board on one side, by adding some kind of spacers on the sunk side of the board, between the board and what it rests on?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Dereekoo]

I'd be inclined to shim and raise the wood rather than try and fill with something that may crack and crumble in time. Had a similar thing in my bathroom when I wanted to lay some thin lino over the floorboards that were a bit hit and miss so shimmed up as best I could, power planed off some none flush/raised bits and filled various gaps with wood filler. As you say even small discrepancies tend to show after time, glad to say it all still looks nice and flat after 2 years. If I ever need to lift the floorboards I'll just make good again with wood filler,

 

[crazydaze]

The correct way to deal with this is to lay Uzin Crack Bridge around the conduit where it joins the concrete and then lay two 3mm coats of Mapei Renovation self levelling screed.

Anything else you do will allow this to show at some point in the future, although minimal prep has the bonus of easy access should you need it in future.

 

[Dereekoo]

then lay two 3mm coats of Mapei Renovation self levelling screed.

The dips only 4mm??

 

[crazydaze]

The dips only 4mm??

You’ll need a screed coat to level the floor and dip over the crack bridge to take the worst of the dip out and of course the gap between the conduit and the concrete, when this dried, it will sink/dip/slump in these areas, then you’ll want a final coat screed to actually level the whole floor so you don’t see the conduit running under the vinyl throughout the installation.

Anything else is a bodge with limited chance of success in stopping the conduit channel showing through the vinyl.

 

[Dereekoo]

You’ll need a screed coat to level the floor and dip over the crack bridge to take the worst of the dip out and of course the gap between the conduit and the concrete, when this dried, it will sink/dip/slump in these areas, then you’ll want a final coat screed to actually level the whole floor so you don’t see the conduit running under the vinyl throughout the installation.

Anything else is a bodge with limited chance of success in stopping the conduit channel showing through the vinyl.

I don't think the OP is going to do that, in fact I don't think anybody (except you?) would do that, but each to their own

 

[crazydaze]

I don't think the OP is going to do that, in fact I don't think anybody (except you?) would do that, but each to their own

30+ Years in the professional flooring trade, but what would I know right?

 

[Dereekoo]

30+ Years in the professional flooring trade, but what would I know right?

Never said anything about your trade or ability just that it was not going to happen? perhaps the OP will come back in the future and tell us how he bodged it?

 

[sandblast]

Haha, you lot. All Good ideas though. Still haven’t decided on what approach I will take, or how much of a perfectionist i want to be, but I like Dereekoo’s suggestion. crazydaze’ idea is good too, however that’s more for when you don’t have the option of raising the floor. As long as the wooden board is compliant enough to twist as much as needed to be flush, then that’s no doubt a more practical solution.

But I’ll think on it some more.

 

[sandblast]

thanks all, plywood shimmed and flush with the concrete. also replaced the nails with screws to make future access easier.

now i need to fill the ~1/2mm gap between the plywood and the concrete. can anyone recommend the right type of filler for this job?

i think it needs to be somewhat flexible, so my usual toupret probably won't do.

levelling compound seems to only come in 20kg bags, is there something else that'll do the job that might come in a smaller quantity? this might be a daft question but would caulk work?

 

[Dereekoo]

thanks all, plywood shimmed and flush with the concrete. also replaced the nails with screws to make future access easier.

now i need to fill the ~1/2mm gap between the plywood and the concrete. can anyone recommend the right type of filler for this job?

i think it needs to be somewhat flexible, so my usual toupret probably won't do.

levelling compound seems to only come in 20kg bags, is there something else that'll do the job that might come in a smaller quantity? this might be a daft question but would caulk work?

As stated earlier I bodged with Ronseal multi purpose wood filler

 

[sandblast]

Hi all

So I shimmed the plywood and the floor is nice and flat. Next issue is this large crack in the concrete floor. Hopefully someone will assure me this is nothing to worry about, and that my flat is not about to collapse.

The crack about 20cm x 5cm x 5cm.

Would No Nonsense Concrete Repair Mortar be suitable for this job?

I will be laying vinyl floor on top of this.
Any other advice is appreciated.