For very uneven flooring, laminate sheets or tiles may be a better bet. This material is more flexible, but may reveal the imperfections in the surface. The most durable and attractive option for an uneven floor is often a pour on option, such as epoxy.
The best flooring for uneven floors due to its attractiveness and durability is epoxy, which can also be designed to mimic a wide variety of appearances. Not only will epoxy finish out the floor, but it'll also even it out.
You can install vinyl on many types of subfloor, including concrete and wood. But that floor must be flat for your installation to be a success. An uneven subfloor can lead to potential problems, such as planks having varying heights that will make the flooring unstable and wear down more quickly.
While laminate tends to be more forgiving of subfloor imperfections compared to other types of flooring, it is still important to level your flooring to avoid future damage if you are installing laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor. A level subfloor ensures a more attractive and long-lasting finish.
One way to install flooring on uneven floors is to choose a type of flooring that is naturally flexible. This makes carpet one of the most ideal options: it's cheap, easy to install, and very attractive. For only slightly uneven flooring, sturdy materials such as luxury vinyl plank can also be used for full coverage.
Laminate flooring on an uneven floor will cause many problems. One of the major problems are loud pops and cracks that will eventually surface when you walk across due to pockets of air beneath the surface as a result of the uneven subfloor.
Underlayment can help smooth things out, though, but the type you choose will vary depending on your specific reasoning for wanting an even subfloor. That can make choosing the right one for you rather tricky, so here's a quick guide that should lend a helping hand in getting the best underlayment for uneven subfloors.
For concealing just a rough spot or two, a set of floor cushions or a carefully placed pouf will do the trick. For larger areas, consider creating a cozy reading nook, or situating a seating area or home bar over the offending floorspace.
First, the slipping started, because peel-and-stick vinyl tiles don't actually stick that well to uneven surfaces. Sure, they make great contact with flat areas, but grout lines pose a bit of a problem. And moldings and appliances, too. You need laser precision to cut these babies flush to the footprint of your space.
Most manufacturers recommend that the floor be flat to within 3/16” in a 10 ft. radius. These measurements are consistent with most other types of floor coverings. On floating floors, vertical movement needs to be kept to a minimum.
Fibreboard underlay
It helps smooth uneven floors, reduces noise and acts as an excellent thermal insulator. Not to mention, it's also the number one choice of underlay for laminate and wooden floors. If you have an uneven subfloor, the fibreboard will help even any dips and dents you can't level out.
In some cases, a slight slope may be normal and not cause for concern. However, if the slope is severe or getting worse over time, it could be a sign of a serious problem that requires immediate attention. One potential risk of sloping floors is damage to the structural integrity of the home.
Luxury vinyl tiles or planks can also work very well on uneven floors. They are available in the form of tiles or planks that have a click and lock installation method. Like engineered hardwood, it is also a floating floor. Uneven sub-floor prevents vinyl planks to click together.
For concrete slabs: If there are only a few problem areas in the concrete, you can mechanically flatten them by grinding, bead-blasting, abrading, or using a patching compound. If the entire slab is uneven, you may have to use a self-leveling concrete compound to smooth it out.
The term "floating floor" refers to the construction of flooring material to lock together using a system similar to a puzzle piece where the material locks together creating a tight bond. With this tight bond, the floor is stable without any attachment to the sub-floor.
Use a self-leveling underlayment on low spots on wood. Self-leveler is available in powder and pre-mixed forms and creates a flat, smooth surface in flooring projects. The strength of the product is similar to concrete. Self-leveler dries fast, so you need to work quickly.
Most flooring materials have different heights and thicknesses that can affect the transition from one room to the other. You might be able to install padding and underlayment when you first lay down the floors to make them more consistent. But you may have to use a threshold or transition strip to create an even flow.
The easiest way is to use a self-leveling compound, also called liquid floor underlayment or floor resurfacer, within sections of level-cut rails. The material flows out like thick syrup, then hardens into a smooth, perfectly level surface, sometimes in less than an hour.
Uneven floors in a house are usually a sign of a foundation problem, but not always.
The main things that you need to consider when choosing the thickness of your laminate floor are the evenness of your subfloor and any reason you may have to be worrying about noise reduction. If you have a subfloor that is in any way uneven, it pays off to choose a thicker laminate.
Plywood subfloor tends to be more expensive than OSB. OSB is better for you if you're looking for a cheaper option for your subfloors.
No subfloor is perfectly level, but any signs of unevenness and high or low spots must be remedied. Please follow these requirements: Subfloor unevenness cannot be greater than 3/16 of an inch over a 10-foot span or 1/8 inch over a 6-foot span. Subfloors must not slope more than ½ inch per 6 feet (25 mm per 1.8 m)
Engineered hardwood is a great option for uneven floors because you have the appearance and characteristics of solid wood flooring, without needing to be fixed to the subfloor surface.