Floor leveler is a cement-like product that is used to smooth floors with dips, humps and holes in them. The four easy steps below will explain how to mix and apply this product to a hardwood floor.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
- Power Drill
- Cement Mixing Bit
- Primer
- Long Handle Paint Roller
- Long Handle Squeegee
- Trowel
- Floor Sander
- Dust Mask
- Bucket
- Level
Step 1 – Sand the Floor
Before any leveler can be applied the finish on the top of the hardwood must be removed. If not, the leveler may have trouble bonding to the wood. Use a floor sander and walk it back and forth across the area of the floor that is going to be leveled until the finish is completely removed. Don’t forget to wear a dust mask.
Step 2 – Apply a Primer
With the finish gone, a primer can now be applied to the wood. The easiest way to do this is to use a long-handle paint roller. A long-handle paint roller eliminates the need to crouch or kneel down as the primer is applied. Simply cover the roller end with the primer by rolling it in a tray with the primer in it, and then run it back and forth across the area of the floor that needs to be leveled until it is evenly covered. Let the primer dry.
Step 3 – Mix the Leveler
Most levelers are just mixed with water, but it is important to know what kind of leveler is going to be applied. Trowel-on type levelers will mix up thick like a peanut butter or toothpaste. Generally, trowel-on levelers are used for very small areas or to patch holes. Self-leveling levelers, on the other hand, will be very thin once mixed much like syrup. This type of leveler is usually used when large areas need to be covered. If using a self-leveling leveler, use duct tape or cardboard to dam up the bottoms of any doors or the openings of any vents. Since this type of leveler is so runny, not doing so could result in the leveler running underneath a door and into a hallway or into a vent before hardening. Once the type of leveler is determined, pour the powder into a clean bucket and add water. Colder water will lengthen the hardening time of the product. Use a power drill equipped with a cement mixing bit to mix the leveler for about 2-3 minutes. Remember to scrape the sides of the bucket while mixing to make sure all of the powder fuses evenly with the water rather than in clumps on the side.
Step 4 – Apply the Levelers
When ready, pour the leveler onto the area in which it is needed. At first, let the leveler spread out a little bit on its own. Then, use a trowel or a long handled squeegee to spread it across the area that needs filling. Use a trowel to taper the edges of the puddle so that the leveler transitions smoothly to the old floor. As the product begins to harden, check it with a level to ensure the new surface is perfectly flat.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
