Laminate flooring is a stylish, cost-effective, and durable option for any home. But for flooring that looks its best and lasts, it’s important to ensure the floor underneath it is level.
Laminate flooring is designed to lay flat. If your subfloor has dips, slopes, or high points, the laminate planks may not interlock properly, causing noticeable imperfections. Over time, these imperfections can worsen, resulting in creaking, bouncing, or even breakage.
If you’re unsure about the levelling process or need help, it’s best to consider hiring a professional. But with a little preparation, many homeowners find that they can successfully level their floor themselves and create the perfect foundation for their new laminate flooring.
Whether you're working with a concrete, plywood, or a wooden subfloor, this guide will help you through the process of levelling your floor for a flawless finish. We’ll cover:
Article by: Laura Walker , Product & Design Specialist, EGGER UK
How to Level a Floor for Laminate: Step-by-Step
Uneven surfaces can lead to gaps, warping, or even damage to the laminate itself, as well as the underlay . Let’s dive into the different methods for how to level a floor for laminate and what you can do if your current floor is uneven.
1. Evaluate Your Floor's Condition
Before you begin, assess your current floor. Is it concrete, wooden, or plywood? Is there a significant slope or just minor bumps and dips? These factors will help determine the best method for how to level the floor for laminate. For new building projects including loft conversions and extensions, using structural flooring panels is the best way to ensure a flat, even surface from the beginning.
You’ll find it useful to use a spirit level or laser level to measure for slopes. Mark the high and low spots, and decide on your levelling method based on the floor type and the severity of the unevenness.
2. How to Level a Concrete Floor for Laminate
Concrete floors are a common subfloor for laminate, especially on ground floors and in basements or garages. However, it’s not uncommon for them to have dips, cracks, or an overall slope.
If your concrete floor is significantly sloped, you may need to use a self-levelling compound to smooth out the surface. This compound flows into low spots to create a perfectly even surface.
- Prepare the floor: Clean the concrete thoroughly and remove any loose debris or dust. This ensures proper adhesion of the compound.
- All old floor coverings and residues — such as adhesives or underlay materials — must also be removed.
- Mix the self-levelling compound: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mix the compound to the correct consistency.
- Pour and spread: Pour the compound into the low areas and use a long-handled trowel to spread it evenly across the floor.
- Allow it to dry: Depending on the product, drying time can range from a few hours to 24 hours — refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the most accurate information.
- If your subfloor only has minor imperfections, you may wonder how to level a concrete floor without levelling compound . For small areas, you can use patching compound to fill in dips or grind down high spots with a concrete grinder. Always ensure the floor is level before proceeding with your laminate installation .
3. How to Level a Wooden Floor for Laminate
Wooden subfloors, especially in older houses, can often be uneven due to sagging joists or general wear and tear. Start by inspecting the joists under the floor. If they’re sagging, you may need to sister the joists, which involves attaching new wood alongside the existing ones to strengthen and raise them to the correct level.
To level a wooden floor without removing the floorboards, a practice best reserved for less severe cases, you can use shims or a floor levelling compound.
Laying a layer of plywood over the entire floor can provide a flat surface for your laminate — attach the plywood securely to the existing subfloor using screws or nails, and check the level as you work. If you need to raise the level of the floor (to match adjacent rooms, for example), plywood sheets of increasing thickness can help.
4. How to Level a Floor without Clearing the Room
You might find yourself needing to level a floor without completely emptying the room, especially if it's a kitchen or bathroom where removing fixtures isn't feasible.
To level a kitchen floor without removing cabinets, the best way to do this is by using a self-levelling compound. Make sure to tape off and protect your cabinets and appliances before pouring the compound, and use a trowel to push the compound into any tight areas under the cabinets. For bathrooms, water-resistant plywood or cement board can help level the floor, especially in areas prone to moisture.
How to Level a Floor Without Levelling Compound
In some cases, you may not want to use a self-levelling compound due to cost or availability. Adding a plywood overlay can smooth out imperfections in the floor, particularly over wooden subfloors. For more severe dips, you can layer the plywood in sections of varying thickness.
Fixing Uneven Laminate Flooring
Even after installation, you may find that your laminate floor has minor imperfections. If gaps appear between the planks, you can use a laminate floor repair kit or pull the planks closer together using a floor gap fixer tool. If you want to address small bumps in the subfloor, these can be removed with epoxy resin. Bouncing or creaking is another common issue, and this is often caused by an uneven subfloor. You may need to remove the laminate, level the floor properly, and reinstall the planks to fix a creaking floor.
Incorrectly laid underlay can be another factor in the unevenness of your laminate flooring. You can find more tips for fixing common laminate flooring mistakes in our troubleshooting guide.
Understanding how to level a floor for laminate is essential to achieving a smooth, long-lasting finish. Whether you're dealing with concrete, plywood, or a wooden subfloor, taking the time to assess and fix any unevenness before installation will save you from costly repairs down the line.
Now that you know how to level flooring, you're ready to tackle your laminate project with confidence! Be sure to read our guides to address any other issues you may come across including cleaning laminate flooring and how to finish laminate flooring edges .
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