How to level a wooden floor

Watch our step-by-step video showing how to level a wooden floor, with expert advice and top tips to help you complete the job with confidence.
Visit the official B&Q KZbin channel. Here you'll find the ideas and know-how you need to make your home improvement dream a reality: / bandq
Need a helping hand with your DIY project? We're always uploading new videos, so whatever your project, we're here to support you 24/7. Subscribe today so you don't miss out. www.youtube.com...
For more advice go to www.diy.com/advice
To shop at B&Q go to www.diy.com
Join the B&Q Club for exclusive offers: www.diy.com/club
Like us on Facebook: / bandq
Follow us on Twitter: / bandq
Be inspired on Pinterest: / bandq
Find new ideas on Instagram: / bandq_uk

[@zapwatt]

There is almost nothing in this video that actually addresses making a floor level.

[@excalibermax]

I know makes it flat but not level

[@DrGoatLips]

Exactly what I thought, it's still just as level as it was before.

[@simonleigh7233]

Not even flat either. With that thin hardboard it will follow any rises and falls anyway. Useless video. Not a spirit level in sight.

[@gmanner1]

@@simonleigh7233 how do you suggest levelling floorboards perfectly?

[@nb7204]

Lmao

[@chrissy212e]

Very helpful tutorial, Many thanks

[@bandq]

That's so great to hear! 😁

[@_huei1509]

Thank you for the this video! It’s useful for me

[@lmaoroflcopter]

Thanks for the video. About to replace a poorly laid carpet tile floor in my place but have a few floorboards to replace along with sorting out the unevenness. Looks like this video answers a lot of my questions. Thank you.

[@bobpeters5615]

It is not always useful to mark the centre lines of the room. Putting the line a half sheet away from centre, or some other distance can mean you don't have silly little narrow bits at the edges. Also you don't need to draw a complete circle to start, just two equidistant marks (as far apart as possible to make the crosses meet about 90 degrees), but practically you don't need the 90 degree line, just butt the boards carefully. Check if you need to trim the bottom of the door BEFORE you fix pieces close to the door or you could trap yourself in the room!! Finally, for those who have to truly level a wooden floor, I'm afraid its a case of lift all the floorboards. Ensure there are noggins (spacers) between the joists (to stop joists twisting or warping)Glue and screw thin battens to the low spots, Construct a temporary wooden 'bridge' about 8 ft long. Clamp two straight edges to the joists and level them with spirit level. Then use a 1/2" router with a bottom cut bit to ride across the bridge to machine a section of the floor level, move one of the straight edges to a new position and repeat. Then relay the floorboards PROVIDED they are in good condition.

[@prodical666]

Would an 18 gauge brad nailer be suitable for nailing down the hardboard?

[@bandq]

That would be fine (& would save you a lot of time!), assuming you're using brad nails of the same length as those advised in the video (20mm). Hope this helps!

[@ubacow7109]

plenty powerful~

[@odesamusic]

Will laying laminate be ok?

[@bandq]

Hi there, it will be. We would suggest watching our video on laying laminate flooring for more details 😊 bit.ly/2NOFjdv

[@RetroFamilyVids]

My floorboards are traditional and when the previous owner changed the boiler he ripped a couple of them but didn't do the job properly. Now they are a bit loose and squeaky. Can someone please advise if these sheet on the top of existing floorboards will sort out the problem? Only a small area is loose.

[@D_8KEN]

No they won't. You'll need to screw them down or hammer the existing nail in further.

[@bandq]

Hi there, you will need to secure the existing boards down to stop them being loose and squeaky 😊

[@XronisFountoukidis]

My room is square 4m*4m why should i not start from one corner and continue from there? it will save me from unnecessary many board cutting. or?

[@bandq]

Hi there! Yes, this is to prevent unnecessary cuts - the room may not be perfectly square, so it's best to start in the middle and work outwards from there.

[@75bluey]

So no backing glue? No expansion gaps? No taping sheet joins?

[@louiserosefield38]

there were expansion gaps.i think..

[@eduardoherrera4894]

So how did you level an un even floor? Like low spots or ramps.?

[@eduardoherrera4894]

bandq it will be nice to know how you do both but the video just lays another layer of material with out fixing anything other than common sense procedures a lot of theories but when you do a floor is not as you were told. My question was related to the video title. So again how you level a hardwood floor like low spots or ramps before the vinyl flooring.? Please answer if you know how.

[@eduardoherrera4894]

bandq im not upset but why you ignore the question and answer on a different subject if you don’t know the answer just ignore it. But thank you for the info

[@noorhnoori3908]

Hello dear, There is any product underlay for Vinyl sheet? after I lay down my Vinyl the floors feel really hard and not comfortable, I don’t know how to explain.

[@ubacow7109]

they basically stacked material or shims until it was level.

[@richieduliban87]

Does anything need to be done at the joints or is it fine to put the wood up against each other with no gap?

[@richieduliban87]

bandq no one helps me in my local store

[@robertotheo]

Hi B&Q, thanks for the video. Our situation is we are planning to have laminate installed in a long corridor but the floorboards are bouncy. Not quite kids party but you get my point. Would the directions in your video help with this or would we need more evasive measures? Thanks in advance :)

[@robertotheo]

@@bandq Thanks it does help. We have someone coming tomorrow:)

[@terencematthew1]

What about skirting and architrave

[@bandq]

Hi, Terence! Can you provide some details regarding your query and we'll be happy to help 😊

[@AdamWander]

Can I use hardwood plywood instead ?

[@bandq]

Hi, John. Good question, you can use hardwood plywood as subflooring instead. We'd suggest using WBP (weather boiled proof) plywood in any areas where wet or moisture might be present. Hope this helps! 😄

[@shahidhakim2518]

I have wooden flooring near bathroom what should i do to level wooden flooring for vinyl carpet

[@thomasgourley7796]

Nice

[@dayanacobos5970]

Very helpful

[@AhmadAli-mu9xy]

good work.

[@janeshown8959]

Never did understand how doing all of this work before laying the tile leveled the floor???

[@janeshown8959]

Thank you for your response but I didn't make my question clear. I was wondering how the leveling compound "leveled" in and of itself. I am not crazy about pulling up the old floor cause it was original a very old back porch floor that had a lot of weathering on the end boards going out the back door. I was thinking I might put some black felt paper down and then use the leveling compound or as my son suggested today...a 'dry pack' which would be easier. My brother is an expert in concrete for many years and I believe he could do it and would probably do it a lot different than I am imagining how it would be done...and do a much more beautiful job. The back porch is really slanted toward the outside by about 2 inches or less according to what my brother measured very quickly. So would you recommend doing all of that work....screwing wooden shims...messing with existing joists....etc. I see the point of using plywood on top once the leveling had already been done or before the dry pack has been applied. The plywood you are talking about...would that be the super thin plywood? I have that as a ceiling in one of my bedrooms so I can't remember the actual name of it. I will mention all of this to my brother and the flexi adhesive and grout...but he probably already knows that...but I just didn't understand how a leveling compound actually works on any floor. My son said today that has to be flattened out even all along the top and the bottom of the leveling compound goes to the lowest places...at least that is what I thought he said...lol

[@janeshown8959]

Thank you...will let my brother know.

[@doreenwatson-read]

I had a fella come and do my bathroom years ago it looked amazing 3 years later we had plumbing done and t was ruined.😞

[@miker1670]

? What is the point of this ?

[@miker1670]

I had a dog throw up on my floors 25 years ago, then I had the roof painted and it ruined the toilet... Lol this is how dumb your post is

[@martingeldart386]

@@miker1670 She was simply sharing an experience of having her floor project ruined by plumbing works. I understood what she meant and it has everything to do with this video. Stop being such a wet salad and leave people to share what they want.

[@miker1670]

@@martingeldart386 I understood what she meant also. My question is what's the point of it lol. Stop being a white knight simp.

[@psychosean77]

@@miker1670 top comment, loved that 10 outa 10

[@ramyguirguis8367]

So what are these hard boards called in America?

[@ubacow7109]

they're literally hard board lol you'll find it in home depot as hardboard. Typically its used as the backer material to kitchen cabinets

[@devilgamehow6856]

YOU AN DO IT IF YOU BMQ IT BABY

[@sasa1982uk]

Is that Amy Schumer?

[@risingsun2852]

Lol, short hair though

[@oodles86]

Much funnier