Can self-leveling compound be used to fix small gaps and pits under a new nail-down hardwood flooring install


giggle kitten , Tuesday, 10th of August 2010 11:05:14 AM

l ripped up my old carpet and found that the old hardwood flooring that 
giggle kitten
used to be there was replaced with plywood before the carpet was laid 
Registered User
down.I'd like to prepare the surface for new hardwood flooring and am 
Joined: Monday, 7th of June 2010, 21:14:01
wondering if self-leveling compound can be nailed through.There are some 
Posts: 932
gaps where the plywood meets the old hardwood and some spots that are not 
Viewed 2578 times
very level.I am looking for the best way to prepare the floor for good 
old-fashioned solid unfinished hardwood strip flooring.Thanks!
 
 
 
 
 

Baberz , Wednesday, 11th of August 2010 09:49:58 AM

no. it doesnt work. if the staple manages to penetrate it it  
Baberz
will shatter & make & uneven mess. tar paper & roof shingles dont work  
Registered User
either. thats garbage. the best solution is to take a 6 or 8 foot level &  
Joined: Tuesday, 11th of May 2010, 09:21:26
check the subfloor for where theres a dip. go to windsor plywood (or  
Posts: 578
similar store) & buy some 1/8'' mahogany plywood. us this to fill the  
Viewed 2980 times
dip. you will probably need more than 1 layer in most place. use yellow  
carpenters glue & a hammer tacker with 3/8'' staples to fasten it down.  
then take an angle grinder & grind the edges of it to taper them more  
gently.  
 
the problem with tar paper etc. is that over time it will compress. when  
it compressess it will create an air pocket. if theres an air pocket the  
hardwood will be more prone to begin moving. if it begins moving it will  
create squeaks.  
 
 
 
 
 

Sweetheart , Thursday, 12th of August 2010 02:57:11 AM

The self-leveling might crack later causing the floor to  
Sweetheart
crackle when you walk on it. Remember that solid wood floor should last a  
Registered User
long time so you need to think long-term. As was suggested, layers of felt  
Joined: Friday, 21st of May 2010, 03:45:17
paper (15lb., 30lb. or even 90lb.) can be built up & nailed through. Small  
Posts: 930
dimples can be bridged over by the solid floor. If there are deeper things  
Viewed 15255 times
that need to be filled you can use Bondo. It is available in gallons at  
many home improvement store. It is pretty cheap & more flexible than  
cementitious floor patches. If you are going to use it over old wood floor  
it would be best to re-nail any loose areas first. If there are any areas  
that are slightly high I would recommend using a floor edge sander with 30  
grit paper to knock them down.  
 
 
 
 
 

fashionista , Friday, 13th of August 2010 03:44:52 AM

No you cannot use any cementious product. It will crack and  
fashionista
make a mess under your floor leading to all sorts of problems.  
Registered User
 
Joined: Thursday, 20th of May 2010, 21:23:42
It is best to use roofing shingles or tar paper. Here is an article  
Posts: 687
explaining it better.  
Viewed 3412 times
 
http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/s-13045352/cmd/kbresource/kb-1562142280699543110/view_question!PAGETYPE?sc=38&sf=101133&documentid=203784&action=view  
 
 
 
 
 

skittles , Saturday, 14th of August 2010 04:41:41 PM

yea it will be fine to do that....even if it breaks it up just  
skittles
a little, which it could do,it would still be ok as long as the end of the  
Registered User
nail or staple ends up in the plywood.....  
Joined: Sunday, 23rd of May 2010, 17:43:30
the best leveling floor patch that I know of and use all the time is made  
Posts: 1601
by ''ARDEX''....it will bond to almost anything and is really strong.....  
Viewed 9021 times
 
 
 
 
 

Princess Consuela Banana Hammock , Sunday, 15th of August 2010 07:08:54 AM

the best option would be to remove the plywood and then re  
Princess Consuela Banana Hammock
level bearers/joists as necessary. starting a new floor with uneven,  
Registered User
partially filled substrate will only lead to problems later on.  
Joined: Friday, 11th of June 2010, 09:42:07
 
Posts: 853
 
Viewed 12066 times
 
 
 

cuddle bunny , Monday, 16th of August 2010 12:37:25 AM

You could use it but it is very brittle. It will crack crack  
cuddle bunny
sometimes. I use layers of felt paper and shoot them down with a staple  
Registered User
gun.  
Joined: Wednesday, 21st of April 2010, 22:15:44
 
Posts: 961
 
Viewed 15589 times
 
 
 



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: 4 guests