In this guide, step by step, I will give all the useful information on how to level a sloping concrete floor. With the passage of time, it can happen to find yourself with the floor of the house tilted. This annoying problem can depend on the wear of time and the quality of the materials used. In addition to being unaesthetic, the problem in question can involve dangers, especially in the presence of children or people with walking difficulties. So below, I will try to provide valid solutions to this type of problem.

How to level a sloping concrete floor?

• Brush
• Straightedge
• Pencil
• Ceiling brush
• Buckets
• Trowel
• Drill mixer

The evaluation of the factors

The sloping floor is not an insurmountable problem if you rely on professionals in the sector and resort to the use of quality materials. First of all, we must remember that the way in which it will be necessary to proceed to level the floor depends on various factors: it will be necessary to evaluate the cause of the problem, the extent of the same, the material of the floor. After considering the various elements mentioned, it will be necessary to identify the most appropriate solution to the specific case.

The determination of the price

To determine the price of leveling an on-trend floor, some characteristics need to be considered. First of all, the type of material with which the floor in question is made, for example, if it is in cement, concrete, unfinished, ceramic or tiles. On the basis of the material itself, we will identify the method with which to level the floor and it must be said that there are several, choosing a suitable product for this purpose. The area in which to intervene also affects the relative cost. For example, leveling the floor of a garage is not the same as leveling a floor with terracotta coverings. A final element that affects the price is the type of coating requested by the customer.

The choice of material

The best answer to how to level a sloping floor is to opt for a pour of liquid resin. Through the following procedure, it will be possible to eliminate the problem quickly. Another advantage of this technique is to leave the original flooring intact, thus avoiding the risk of any damage. Resin is not always the ideal answer to how to level a sloped floor. In the presence of a floor whose material is not particularly valuable, the preferable solution is to completely redo the flooring. Alternatively, it will be possible to place new flooring on it.

The creation of the steps

In both cases described in the previous steps, sloping floor solutions could cause steps to be created between one room and another. It will be possible to solve this problem by laying floor profiles of different levels. In specialized shops, it is possible to find all types, such as those with triangular sections perfect for transforming the step into a slide to curved ones, which soften it. It follows that leveling a sloping floor is a necessary, simple and not excessively expensive operation. It is important to rely on those who have the right skills and knowledge in this regard.

Since there are many design options, there is no definitive answer. Let’s consider the basic principles of how to heat floors and frequently used insulation technologies for floors.

Quickly heat your floor with inexpensive materials

Often, no one wants to initiate lengthy repairs. But at the same time, there is a great need to heat the floor.

To quickly slightly heat the floor, you need to put a layer of thermal insulation over the existing but elastic coating that you can walk on. We are talking only about felt up to 2 cm thick. On top of the felt, you can also lay a mat up to 0.5 cm thick. Under the furniture legs, you will need to lay boards, for example, from laminate, to not get too loaded.

In all, quickly, in one fell swoop, you can heat the floors a little. But such warming will not be fundamentally correct the situation with cold floors. Why?

A little theory about soil insulation

A significant part of the house’s heat (apartment on the 1st floor) comes out through the floors if they are not insulated. This requires an increase in heating power to keep the indoor temperature within the normal range. And the floors get cold, forcing residents to keep their legs higher.

You can change the situation and warm the floors only with the help of insulation. A barrier made of insulation is needed, which would significantly reduce heat escape through the floors.

Cold floors above subways and basements must have a certain resistance to heat transfer regulated by the standard. For the southern temperate climatic zone, this value is 3.7m2C / W (while for walls only 2.8 m2C / W). But when there is outside air under the floor, for floors over driveways or when the house is on stilts…. – 4.2 m2C / W is already required.

The further north, the higher the resistance to heat transfer in the floors should be, for the north temperate zone, 5.5 and 6.2 (m2C / W), respectively.

At the center of economic profit

The requirements of the standards are “invented” based on economic feasibility. The state does not mandate to create less heat resistance because it is not profitable in the first place.

Conventional floors have a very low resistance to thermal energy movement. It is just a concrete slab or a 40mm board. Therefore, to achieve the required thermal resistance, a significant thickness of the insulation will be required.

To warm the floor in the middle-south regions, you need to apply 10 centimeters of Styrofoam or 13 cm of mineral wool. And for those in the north, 15 and 20 cm, respectively.

It can be argued: why is it necessary to adhere to the standard? 10 cm is expensive. And 5 cm will do. Unfortunately, it won’t work. It will be cool and not inexpensive, as a result, much more expensive. It is recommended to follow the regulation requirements, which are based on obtaining the maximum economic benefit from heat savings.

Insulate floors from the outside or inside

Insulation from the inside will “eat up” the room’s height by at least 12 cm, but maybe 25 in cold weather. In some rooms, this is simply unacceptable.

In general, it is preferable to insulate the outside from the subfloor side. For hardwood floors, if there is no access from below, the boards are torn off and insulation is made between the logs.

But when the floors are made on the ground or on a concrete base inaccessible from below, then you need to re-insulate at the top. Sometimes, they sacrifice the thickness of the insulation (heat) to preserve the internal dimensions.

How to make underfloor heating on a concrete base?

If the floor base is concrete, monolithic, or the floors are made on the ground, then there are no special questions about how to warm the floors from inside the room.

It is necessary to use strong and durable insulation. Extruded polystyrene foam under a concrete screed. This insulation is a vapor barrier, but in combination with concrete, this is not a bad thing: the foundation will simply remain at the mercy of its climate.

At the base (ground), a vapor barrier with a curl is laid on the wall. One side is laid along the walls made of 1-2 cm thick insulation at the concrete screed’s height.

Next, the Styrofoam plates are laid with a continuous mat in 2-3 layers until the standard thickness is reached. Usually, cheap plastic wrap is placed over the insulation and a 5cm thick concrete screed is poured on top.