Levelling a floor ready for carpet tiles, please help!?

Question

I have moved into a new rented flat and the downstairs hallway used to have parquet flooring but a few blocks are now missing, also there is a dip about 18" X 12" by the front door, the blocks of parquet that are still in place are really solid, i have bought some "ready mixed! floor levelling compound from wickes and was wondering if its ok to just pour this stuff straight on or will the old parquet need to come up 1st? as i say its a rented flat so i freally want to keep expense and hassle to a minimum, cheers, steve

Answer 1

Dont use a premixed material

Make sure it is a portland based material and not a gypsum type floor leveler for the front hallway.

If its Gypsum based like Jiffset in the white bags from Home Depot when it gets wet it will deteriorate and spall.(Home Depot carries a Portland based floor leveling material) You can walk on it in an hour.

Make sure the underlying concrete is sound and remove any glue that

was holding down the Parquet flooring.

Also when you apply the floor leveler make sure you scratch it into the existing concrete surface with your trowel dont just pour it on and let it self level as scratching it in to the underlying surface will set up a tenacious bond between the old surface and the new floor leveling material itself.

Answer 2

I would go with the self leveller,then cover with hardboard and lay carpet tiles on that.

Answer 3

You will need a straight edge of some type, 2x4 etc to level with, pour mix on floor, and use straight edge cross wise and shuffle towards you, let the rough coat dry, then use a trowel with edge up and skim over lightly with more patch, after drying take edge of trowel and scrape.

Answer 4

If you are renting you better check with the landlord before putting anything over the parquet floor don't you think.

I would just either fill the dips and voids in the parquet with a floor patch filler. First clean the surface and seal with some shellac, that way the floor filler will stick, use a filler that will flex with the floor ,otherwise it will crack.

Now just get some inexpensive carpet and lay over the old floor.

Putting anything over the parquet that is permanent might be asking for losing your deposit from your landlord.

You better get permission before you do anything.