How do i level my floors?

Question

i'd like to level them from the floor joists, not adding another floor over the existing ones

Answer 1

Your question is waaaaay too vague to answer. If your floors are out of level, that means that they slope in a straight line from one side to the other (like a roof). That has nothing to do with the floors, themselves; it's a foundation issue.

If the floors swag in the middle (middle is lower than the two ends), then that is a support issue. It has to be fixed from below. A swag (or bow) in a piece of lumber may have taken years to develop and cannot be fixed by jacking. A floor joist that looks like a smile will rise up like a smile when jacked. The way to fix that type of problem is to jack it up just a little and leave it alone for a long time, then jack it a little more and leave it alone. To do it right might take a year.

When the floor gets straight again, then you can put a new beam under it.

Like I said, you need to be more specific.

Answer 2

Jack them up from below. Have someone with a level on the floor let you know when you are at the right height. You can use a heavy piece of wood across the joists, a 4x4 beam and a car jack, when you get it to the right height, slip in  a lolly column, (get at HDepot or Lowes or simular) under the piece of wood across the joists, lower the car jack and and remove the 4x4.

Answer 3

If you want to level from the joists, then it sounds like you want to take up the flooring, alter the joists, and then replace the flooring. I've seen this done twice, because I sometimes visit job sites of my friend, who is a contractor. In the first case, the stretch a string atop each joist, from the high end to a level point at the opposite end. Then for each joist, they cut a tapered length of 2x4 (tapering down to nothing), and glued and nailed to to the joist's top edge. Eventually they had a level series of joists on which to fasten a new subfloor.

In another case, they used full-sized 2x4s, and attached them to the sides of the joists with very long screws; the narrow edges were at the top and bottom. The top of each 2x4 was level, so when the subfloor went on top, the subfloor was level.

(sorry, while I was blabbing on, Wicket said it better)

Answer 4

If you can get to the underside of the floor then when you find the low points you shim them upward . This will take some study on carpentry so you do it right . The other would to find a good carpenter who would do it on an hourly rate .

Answer 5

Ok, get under the house and use a jack to jack them up.  But remember in the over all scheme things, the house is more than merely floor joists.  Floor joists attach to the walls of the house, attach to the foundation, and if you don't treat them as a system, something will be really ********.  Try to find a happy medium.  If your highest point is 6 inches above everything else, shoot for that, but if its only a peak you might want to lower the 6 inches .

Answer 6

first answer is best. Don"t heed advice of anyone who can"t spell joist or pillar.

Answer 7

To leveling a floor first choose one room then by strain level  from one side to other make a level line or use a long level ,you will see 2 condition as possible 1- Level 2- Up and down in second mode you have 2 choose 1- Grind the high joist 2- Fill the gap by adding the thin shims on top of the lowest joists and then cover the floor by ply wood .

Answer 8

I am not sure exactly what you mean. My mom hired a guy to climb under the house with a special tool to lift up the kitchen floor which had sunk in certain areas over the years.

Answer 9

Call a carpenter to help you work for it. He has a complete tools for that. He has a carpenters level and he know the job.

Answer 10

In  reference to Thomas's reply that contractors can be more trouble than they are worth - I can sympathise with this response as I have had loads of trouble with contractors myself until I found safetrade - these guys are brilliant if you want to find someone professionally to level your floor.

I've provided a link below.

www.safetrade.org.uk

If you want to do it alone, depending on the nature of the work, you can buy a self leveling compound for about £7 per bag, this can work out quite expensive depending on the size of the project and it dries quite quickly so you may want to work in it a section at a time. Personally I would get the professionals in.

I hope this helps

Answer 11

You simply take thin pieces of hardwood (triangular) and hammer them in above the floor joists from underneath. (I assume you have access from underneath). This will also correct squeaky or creaking floors. You'll need alot of these small hardwood piecesw. You can buy them by the bag full.

Answer 12

Hummm... i wouldn't mess with it if your asking here? I would check with a local contractor they will do free estimates and listen carefully what he says he will do see if you could do that yourself .

Answer 13

I don't know what your budget limit is for the project.  But, I hate the idea of getting into a contractor relationship.  They upset your home and seem to make a 4 day job last for two months.  They are at your place today and not back til next month.  That type of service drives me crazy.  I would have to have an honest, hard working contractor before even thinking about the "level floor" project.  I am being very negative because I have been disappointed with the last 4 projects at my home.  I guess you have to take a look at the total contributions before a decision. Good luck.

Answer 14

BOY did you ever bring out the pros..(.read c**p) You have not given enough info for anyone to give you good advice...of all that I have read NORMOBRI is the best ans.followed by Mr MOLE,then George O....the best thing is to ask at your local building center or hardware for a reputable contractor/builder and get some advice from someone that can assess the problem....you need to be careful that you in fixing one problem,don't cause another...!!!now as for EDITH R...I wonder what omly is and a few inches in a day is out of the question if your house is plastered or gyproc.....try for 1/8" in a week and you MAY not ruin the wall finish

Answer 15

Assuming you have a basement with a good floor, (I did) I used 6,  4 in I beams 10 ft long.  That is all I could handle by my self.  13 s***w jacks.  The 7 ft ones.  I spent the biggest part of a year,  I would s***w us the lowest ones till the old house started creaking and popping.  Wait for a time, from a week to a month and go after it again.  Took about a year. My house was 28 by 40, 2 story.  As I leveled the down stairs floor the up stairs went along.  My biggest problem was finding different doors.  Over the years people had cut off the doors on an angle so they would open and shut.  With every thing level and plum,  they did not suit my wife.

Answer 16

To give an accurate explanation, I would need to know more as to where it is low. Is it only in small spots are big areas. If it is low out in the room, look at the ends. Is there water damage or termites around the seals? What size are the joist, what kind of loads are on the floor above? Is there dampness around the piers which have allowed them to sink?

Answer 17

you would need to use jacks and blocking working from under the house

Answer 18

Get a large bottle jack and raise under the main joice then wedge more shims under the pilliars.  Make sure what you use is sturdy and does not kick out with the preasure of raising that much wieght and do not lift no more than you need to to correct the shims under each pilliar.

rd

Answer 19

Will be expensive

how bad r the floors, may be something structal

Hope this helps

stripe existing floor , and all skirtings

using level find highest area ,moving across floor to lowest area add ply strips as you go , to make up difference between the two. Re fit flooring. "sheeting"

The problem you will have is non load bearing walls, you will need to cut the flooring on the joist nearest the wall, otherwise no support

Answer 20

if it is a concrete slab then put more concrete in the spot that you need to level. if it is wood floors then they have some cushions at Lowe's that you can use

Answer 21

I will assume you have some low spots, and not an over all slope to the floor.

In this case, and if you have access to joists under the floor, you can tap shims in between the joist and the underlayment plywood. tap the shims in until the area comes back to level. You will want a helper with a level upstairs to tell you when.

If the whole floor is sloping, you may have a foundation problem. At any rate, you will need to re-level the house with house jacks. This is not too difficult to do, but you need to be very careful with the plumbing and electrical connections. You may also have to deal with tie downs depending on what part of the country you are in, or what kind of home you have. For this reason, if you need to level a house it is best to hire a pro.

Answer 22

start by removing all of your finish flooring and sub flooring. locate your highest point in the room. easiest way to do this is with a laser line level. you can set it up about 12-24 inches from your joists the measure up from tops of each joist in a few spots. once you determine the high point you will have to sister in new joist to the existing ones at this height using the laser line(you can also string lines if laser is not available. much more work) i would recommend using an adhesive like pl-400 and using deck screws to fasten your new joists. pl will prevent squeaks and screws are great fasteners for more accurate leveling. easier to back a s***w out than pull a nail!!. so make a material list and get started!!! basically you will need same linear footage as you have already in your floor. make sure also your height will not become a problem with existing doors.

Honestly unless you are putting a pool table in this room i dont see any reason to make a room perfectly level. its alot of work. i know this from many years of renovations Goodluck!!! if you have any other questions throught this process i can help you further just mail me !!!!

Answer 23

Not very cheaply,first you must remove all the skirting boards,then all the floorboards or floor panels.This will leave you with the joists exposed.Rather than trying to realign the existing joists,as they are usually buried either end in supporting walls.Your best option would be to buy new joists and atach them to the sides of the existing ones with suitable screws, whilst leveling them as you proceed.You need to measure the total adjustment rqd. then start at the lowest point.Then refix floor and skirtings.If it was my house I would settle for uneveness and use it for a conversation piece at parties.Good luck.

Answer 24

You could by a "Level", it's at any department store, for excample, home-depo. [:

Answer 25

under the house and a jack... jack it up and add what ever and let it back down

Answer 26

I think the first thing you need to find out, is NOT how to get your floor level, but what has caused it get out of level. You must find the cause before you can realise a cure. Then my advice would be to have an inspection carried out by a professional, then work from that report. Otherwise you will be plucking at straws. Nobody as  yet knows what caused the problem so no point in asking for a cure.

Answer 27

Get a 60 year old carpenter who has been aroung the trade all his life............he will come up with at least 3 ways of doing it..............you don't need a bunch of inspectors or tv clues you need someone who has done it.......you can raise the floor.....you can shim the floor, or you can come along side the existing joist system and add a new joist  and spike it to the old.......really just depends how bad you are.....need to know more.........but what I have told you is the truth.....so get a carpenter for some advice......no fast talking dude.....just a good level headed man.......and he will be happy to give you advice for free...........the good ones are happy to help.....

Answer 28

well the first thing you need to do is get the tools you need like skill saw hammer screws 2" a drill and a couple bits , you will also need a four foot level and a tape measure . then make sure you have money for the new plywood that you will put on unless you plan to use the same one you are going to remove . then you need to clear your room unfasten the existing floor , and remove the plywood from the floor ,you might have to cut it out around the edges of the room . be sure to set you blade depth to the with of your floor so you don't cut the floor joist under it try 3/4 on and inch should get through then take out all the plywood and use your level to find the highest spot in the room . then once you find it you start by making sure it is in good condition and sturdy or properly braced so it does not move then bring the joist next to it to the same height you can use wedges or blocks to lift it , use you level to check it then do the next ans so on now do sure to do both sides and that your joists all come up to the same height and once you have leveled all the joists and made sure that they are braced so they won't fall back down . then you can put you plywood floor back on but first put liquid nail sub floor glue on all the joist before the plywood as this will stop the squiking when you wake on the floor then s***w down the plywood one s***w every foot and stand on it when you put the s***w in when all the would is in there is your new floor you just need carpet . good luck and plane a few days cause it is tiring to do that stuff and don't rush cause that is how we make mistakes and that one will cost you . hope i helped

Answer 29

leveling the floor can be involved but it is not very complicated . As it is a sign of something settleing  in the house  you can look for signs of foundation problems .You can also level the floor  by sistering new joist onto the old ones or as simple as cutting tappered shims the lenght of the joist and than fasten them to the top of each joist to level it . than you can install your subfloor  and be on your way .

As for the problem with contractors it seems many people have some dilusional idea of what it takes to accomplish the task at hand . the real world isn't the DIY network or the home makerover show .If people realised how much those projects on tv really cost  they would be amazed. and many people seem to hire the cheapest guy they can find , there is usually a reason why the contractor is much lower than anyone else , You really do get what you pay  .

Answer 30

YOU NEED TO GET FLOOR JACKS AND A COUPLE OF PIECES OF 2X4'S AND PUT UNDER YOUR FLOOR JOISTS AND JUST JACK UP ,MAKE SURE YOU GO OMLY A FEW INCHES PER DAY OTHERWISE YOU WILL CRACK WALLS OR SOMETHING.GOOD LUCK!

Answer 31

You need to adjust the posts in your basment lower or higher in some places, Or you need to remove the plywood and shim off some wood off your floor joists.