How do I repair an old basement floor? The concrete is uneven, cracked and pitted.?

Question

I want to get it level and smooth so that it can be painted or whatever. Is there a self leveler that is available to homeowners. Or is there other options. I dont want to put in a wood subfloor.

Answer 1

Is it unlevel from wall to wall? Slanting?

Stretch a string across the high point and attach to the opposite wall, in both directions.
Level the string, keeping it on the high point.
If there is a big difference at the walls, a gap from the string to floor, you'll be able to see how much filling it will take to level the floor, wall to wall.
At a doorway, this could create a slight "step up". You may be able to live with that, but it will have to be framed across the doorway, the height of the needed filling, to create a finished edge.

If you still want to proceed, the first thing to do is fill the "cracks" with a concrete filler. This is not concrete, (concrete will crack again). It's a special filler available at home suppliers, commonly used for driveway cracks.

That done, you then want to level and smooth the floor.

The very best product is "latex leveler". The product requires mixing latex and powder, not sand. This is also available at home suppliers. The latex and powder comes as a unit.

If the floor needs more material in some low spots than others, fill those first and smooth. Let those areas dry. It may take several hours.

Once those low spots are filled, you should be able to spread the material beginning at one end and continue backwards. (Don't paint your self in a corner.)
This must be done gradually, smoothing out as you continue, by scraping and trowling. Once dry, the material can be sanded to give it a suitable finish. Use a mask.

This material is used to smooth a floor, suitable for installing hard surface. It is time consuming but a lasting finish and moisture resistant.

Good luck.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How do I repair an old basement floor? The concrete is uneven, cracked and pitted.?
I want to get it level and smooth so that it can be painted or whatever. Is there a self leveler that is available to homeowners. Or is there other options. I dont want to put in a wood subfloor.

Answer 3

Basement Floor Repair

Answer 4

depends on how bad it is. although the floor leveler is fine to help even things out and fill in cracks, its not a finished product. it's made to go under things like tile and hardwood so that you have a level surface to work with. you can't paint it, to my knowledge., and have it hold up worth a damn. you would want to do a 2" top coat of concrete over that, which might cause you other issues (water issues, thresholds coming up too high, etc). The best way to do it is dig out, if it's pretty bad, and repour. make sure you look up the requirements, like the inches of gravel and stuff that are supposed to be under it so that it WON'T crack, can't remember offhand..... either way, you've got your work cut our for you. A few grand to a professional should be considered...

Answer 5

I think it would be best just to lay a new concrete flooring over it. Just chip the old one and then wet it before you start putting down the new flooring so that the new cement can stick to it. It would be best to do it this way cause you would already have a foundation and wouldn't have to worry about impacting the foundation for it to be solid. If you are worried about leveling the ground then just use a clear water hose that is long enough to go diagonally over the floor. Its cheap this way and you can do it yourself

Answer 6

A crack 1/8'' wide is not hair line. It shows movement. Check around your house for more cracks. I would fill the cracks in the basement with Mastic.

Answer 7

Sometimes what you don't want to do is what you should do, like apologizing to someone. If you are stepping down from steps to the floor, the easiest, fastest fix is to lay pressure treated 2x4's flat across the floor wall to wall, level and support with shims where necessary. Put down the WOOD SUB FLOOR.

Answer 8

There is a product out called concrete leveler, follow directions closely..

Answer 9

Lowes sells the level stuff you mix with water and pour out on top and it levels. And also crack filler in a bottle(its black). ou level stuff will have to be hand done and use one of those mason's tool.

Answer 10

fill it in or start completely over, with a jack hammer