Uneven or squeaky floor - what to do?

How uneven is too uneven

In the Quick-Step laminate instructions, the manufacturer states that base irregularities greater than 2 mm per 1 m must be levelled. You can check this yourself: place a straight spirit level or profile on the floor and see how big a gap is left under it.

Other manufacturers may specify other limits for their floors, so check the instructions for the covering you will lay.

A squeaky floor: what it can mean

Squeaking means that something underfoot is moving: the floorboards, the covering on an uneven base or the base itself. What exactly can only be seen once the covering is opened.

• Laminate or parquet laid on an uneven base can flex and squeak where there is a void underneath.
• Check the expansion gap at the walls: Quick-Step specifies at least 8–10 mm on all edges, around pipes, thresholds and under doors.
• A wooden floor may have boards that have come loose; then the solution is wooden floor restoration.

The floor sags: when it becomes a common property issue

The floor finish belongs to the apartment, but floors between storeys with their heat and sound insulation are the common property of the apartment owners (Law on Residential Properties, Section 4). If, under the covering, you see that it is not the finish but the structural floor that sags, notify the building manager in writing.

In pre-war masonry buildings the floors between storeys are mostly wooden (apollo.lv). There it is worth inspecting the condition of the structural floor before a new floor. If the work affects common property, the consent of the apartment owners' association is needed.

Floor levelling: what manufacturers state

• Ceresit CN 76 self-levelling compound is intended for a layer of 4–50 mm. It can be walked on after 3 hours and tiled after 3 days.
• CN 76 dries at 4 mm per day for a layer up to 1.5 cm and 3 mm per day for a thicker layer (+23 °C, 50% humidity).
• Under parquet, wood, laminate and resilient coverings, the moisture of a cement base may be up to 2.0% without heating and up to 1.8% with underfloor heating.
• Movement joints: an indoor area of up to 36 m², a length-to-width ratio of up to 1.5, joints also on room thresholds.
• Ceresit CT 17 primer dries in about 2 hours.

A thicker layer takes longer to dry and costs more, so before levelling the difference between the highest and the lowest spot is measured. If the difference is large, a floor screed is chosen.

Order of work

1. Demolition of the old covering The covering is removed and the base is inspected.
2. Checking the base The unevenness and the moisture are measured and it is checked that the base is stable.
3. Priming and levelling The base is primed and self-levelling compound or screed is poured.
4. Drying The floor is left until the moisture reaches the covering manufacturer's requirement.
5. Laying the covering Laminate, vinyl flooring, parquet or tiles are laid.

How long a renovation takes depends on the amount of work and the drying time of the materials.

What to write in the request about the floor

• The area of the rooms in m² and the current covering.
• Whether the floor is uneven, squeaks or sags, and in which spot.
• If you know it, the unevenness in millimetres per 1 m or 2 m.
• What new covering you plan and whether there will be underfloor heating.
• The building series or year and the condition of the floor.

Whether self-levelling compound is enough or a screed is needed depends on the covering and the unevenness. We agree the price and the list of work before the job starts.

How much floor levelling costs

An example: a room of 18 m². Floor levelling 18 × €6.50 = from €117 and laminate installation 18 × €6.50 = from €117, in total from €234. Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. The price of levelling is affected by the layer thickness.