how to repair a kitchen floor that is lumply?

Answer 1

Did John Wayne Gacy own this house before you?

Answer 2

You don't say whether the sub floor is wood or concrete.
Remove shoe mold and reinstall over new floor. It may break at removal if old.
In either case, the most economical method may be to install plywood over it. If very bad, use 3/4", if not too bad, 5//8". 1/2" in some cases.

On concrete you will need a "shot gun" that shoots a steel "nail anchors", (not a regular nail), through the wood into concrete. This can be rented. Unless the concrete is not bad and can be floated with "Quick Patch", similar to concrete mix, but fast drying.

If it is a wood sub floor, use screws, not nails, counter sunk, then filled for surface installation. In either case begin at the center of the kitchen, working towards the walls.

Begin with screws, at the center, across the width of the plywood, at about 2 foot intervals, then continue outwards and along the joints. Stagger screws from one sheet to adjoining sheet at joints.

As one nails or screws along the sheets, the plywood will "crawl".

If the spacing is not followed, the sheets will eventually buckle, and ruin the new surface material.

Any flooring supplier can give you explicit instructions. Lowes or Home DePot.

If using plywood, Warning:

Check that you have enough space to raise the dishwasher under the cabinet, that your fridge will fit under any overhead cabinets.

You will then need proper transition metals to any other surface at doorways.

Answer 3

Is this a wood floor, or concrete?
If wood, tear out all the tile, etc. and check what is causing the lumps. If tearing out the stuff solved the problem, re-tile, and you're good to go. If not, replace the wood that has the problem, or plane it smooth.
Not sure what to on concrete. Try using grout and smoothing over the lumps.
Easiest is to either let someone else do it for you, or move.

Answer 4

Need abit more info than that to help you, do you mean the floor covering or the base floor? If it's the base floor and you want it flat you need to get it screeded it's like a cement mix but it levels itself out, you are probably better getting someone to do it rather than diy.

Answer 5

It needs to be removed and a new base has to be put in. It sounds like a job for a professional.

Answer 6

too many details, please be more vague.