Floor leveling: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What floor leveling is

Floor leveling fills low spots and smooths uneven concrete or wood floors with self-leveling compound or other materials, so new flooring lies flat and does not crack or flex. People need it when a floor slopes, dips or has high spots that would show through tile, wood or vinyl.

Signs you need it

  • A marble or ball rolls across the room toward one spot, which means the floor slopes
  • The new flooring is planned, but the floor has dips that show when you lay a straightedge
  • Doors stick or rub at the bottom because the floor has moved or dipped under them
  • The concrete has low areas that collect water or have built up cracks at the edges
  • The wood floor has sunk or cupped in places, leaving a rolling or bouncing feel

What the pro does

  • Check the floor with a long straightedge and a level to map the high and low points, then mark them
  • Clean and prime the surface, and remove any loose material or old adhesive that would stop the compound from bonding, after old adhesive in an older home has been checked for asbestos
  • Set the dams or the forms at the edges and any doorways, so the compound stays where it is poured
  • Mix the leveling compound to the product directions and pour it in a controlled flow, spreading it with a gauge rake
  • Let the compound set and cure to the time the product requires, and check the level after it has hardened
  • Sand or grind any high spots lightly, and prime the surface for the new flooring as the product calls for

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Floor area and the number of rooms needing the leveling
  • Depth of the low spots, since deeper areas use more compound and take more passes
  • Type of floor, whether concrete, plywood or a wood subfloor, each needing a different product
  • Cause of the unevenness, such as settling, a damaged joist or a slab that has moved
  • Surface prep needed, including grinding, cleaning and priming before the compound
  • Access to the room and whether the furniture and the trim have to be moved

What a written quote should spell out

  • Area to be leveled, with the depth of the lowest areas noted
  • Leveling compound product name and the thickness planned
  • Surface prep steps, including grinding, cleaning and priming
  • Cure time and the date the new flooring can go down
  • Cause investigation and any structural repair noted as a separate item

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is causing the low spot, and will the leveling last if the cause is still active?
  • What compound do you use, and is it rated for the floor type and the new covering?
  • How deep will the leveling go, and does that change the height at the doors?
  • How long does the compound take to cure before the new floor can go down?
  • Do you check the level after the compound sets, and will you show me the result?
  • Can you show me a floor you leveled with a similar depth and floor type?

Red flags

  • The pro pours leveling compound over a floor that is still moving or has a structural cause
  • The pro does not prime the surface and says the compound will stick to any floor
  • The pro pours the compound too thick in one pass without checking the product limits
  • The pro says the floor will be level with no survey of the high and low points

What you can do yourself

A small, shallow low spot on a sound concrete floor can be filled by a homeowner who follows the product's directions closely. A floor that slopes across a room, a floor with a structural cause, or a wood subfloor with moving joists should be checked by a professional before any compound is poured.

Licenses and permits

Floor leveling commonly does not need a license, but structural repairs to the joists or slab may require a permit or qualified contracting. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department about the rules for structural causes.

Floor leveling questions

Why is my floor uneven?

Common causes include settling, a damaged joist, a slab that has moved or a poor original pour. Ask the pro to find the cause before leveling, because compound over a moving floor will crack.

Can I level a floor over a wood subfloor?

Yes, with a product rated for wood, and only after the joists and the subfloor are sound. Ask the pro to check the subfloor for movement before the compound goes on.

Will leveling raise the floor too high?

It can, which changes the height at doors and at the transitions to other floors. Ask the pro to show the new height and how it fits your doors and trim.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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