How to Level a Basement Floor

Concrete Floor

Many homeowners who are looking to finish their basements find their work stalled by uneven concrete floors. Before they can install wood flooring or tile, they must level the concrete surface to provide a stable subfloor. Even those who plan to leave the basement floor exposed may want to level the concrete to create an even usable surface. The easiest way to level a basement floor is through the use of self-leveling compounds, which are easily applied and produce great results, even for inexperienced installers.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Pry bar
• Broom and dustpan
• Latex concrete caulk
• Caulk gun
• Trowel
• Expansion tape
• Self-leveling compound
• Water
• Wheelbarrow or bucket
• Stirring stick
• Concrete rake

Instructions

1. Move all the furniture and other objects out of the room to give yourself space to work. Use a pry bar or hammer to remove any baseboards or floor boards around the perimeter of the room. Remove the nails from these boards and set them aside for reuse.

2. Clean the concrete. Sweep the surface using a stiff broom, then remove and dispose of all debris.

3. Fill any small holes or cracks in the floor using latex concrete caulk. This material is applied using a regular caulk gun. Squeeze the latex into the holes, and then use a trowel to wipe away any excess material.

4. Use expansion tape to build a dam around the entire perimeter of the room. The dam should be placed at the base of the wall, in the joint where the wall meets the floor. This helps control the flow of the self-leveling compound, and also acts as an expansion joint when the work is complete.

5. Mix your self-leveling compound in a wheelbarrow or bucket according to the instructions on the package. Add a little bit of water at a time so you don't make the mixture too wet. Mix it thoroughly with a stirring stick before proceeding.

6. Pour the self-leveling compound onto the floor in one-foot-wide strips across the length of the room. Use a concrete rake to spread the mixture around a bit, and then use a trowel to push it into the corners or other tight spaces. Gravity will cause the mixture to settle evenly across the room, leveling the floor.

7. Allow at least three days for the floor to dry before installing finished floors on top. Reinstall base boards or trim after flooring installation is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to install a heavy finished flooring material, such as ceramic tile, consider using a commercial epoxy leveling compound instead of one intended for residential use. The epoxy will be better able to withstand the weight of the tile without cracking.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish