Best option to level wonky floorboards?

[crappy]

Hi all,

I have just ripped up all the carpet to prep for new carpet. The house is an old converted barn with nothing level.

A number of the chipboard corners are at different levels. Maybe 5mm tops. No actual movement in the board.

Is it better to rip up, pack with spacers and put down new board or will something like decorators chalk be OK?

New carpet will be thinkish pile with underlay.

Previous owner used wine box cardboard to take up the gaps

 

[noseall]

Is it better to rip up, pack with spacers and put down new board or will something like decorators chalk be OK?

Better than what? No one on here knows exactly what your problem is. Uneven floor boards will not show through a brand new carpet, but may show up when the carpets start to age. Can you not take a belt sander to the peaks?

 

[crappy]

Yes, they did show up through old carpet.

I could sand the opposing edges down but that would create a pit which you'd also see I'd have thought.

Basically, the floor is uneven and I want to level it.

 

[noseall]

Basically, the floor is uneven and I want to level it.

Remove the floor boards - level the joists - re-fix new boards.

You can either faff about with builders' lines and varying thicknesses of packing material, i.e. 4mm ply etc.
Or...
Fix a sister joist along side the existing dodgy joists, but level. This method will depend largely upon the amount of services (cables, pipes etc), that are passing along the tops or through the existing floor joists.

 

[RrogerD]

Our 1980s property has that crappy chipboard boards. Over time it sags and squeaks and all sorts.
What we did was rip up the whole lot; fit 3x2 battens between every joist at the board joint positions and intervals between but most importantly, all at a new and correct level across the whole room. Use a long spirit level for flatness and levelness, in all directions. Lengths of existing joists that were low, we packed out with long strips of 'shims' (slithers of the 3x2 cut at varying thicknesses of 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5mm etc). Then screw down as normal.

The result, a floor that's stable, flat, level and does not squeak. Happy days!

 

[cdbe]

Why not just apply a self leveling compound?

 

[RrogerD]

Why not just apply a self leveling compound?

 

[DiyNutJob]

If you are doing the carpet yourself, you could add additional underlay to raise the low spots. Use multiple layers to raise the height. Taping them down with cello tape or masking tape should be ok. Won't work if you need to put heavy furniture on it.

2mm Polyethylene foam Laminate & wood Underlay roll, 20m² | DIY at B&Q

This polyethylene foam underlay suitable for use with laminate and wood flooring. It helps level uneven floors and provides sound insulation.

www.diy.com

 

[crappy]

This is what I've opted for. It's general corners where there is a height gap. There's no (new / current) movement, I've added new screws to all squeaky parts.

I drowned it in chalk, dragged a straight edge over it and think this will be OK.

Fitters back in two weeks so plenty time to dry.

 

[Notch7]

This is what I've opted for. It's general corners where there is a height gap. There's no (new / current) movement, I've added new screws to all squeaky parts.

I drowned it in chalk, dragged a straight edge over it and think this will be OK.

Fitters back in two weeks so plenty time to dry.

That’s OSB not chipboard