I have a sagged 15' by 15' kitchen floor in a 100 plus year old farmhouse on which I'm looking to install relatively expensive Congoleum DuraCeramic vinyl tile. Should I fix the sag before installing the tile and, if so, how? It's a center sag about an 1 1/4" at its worst tappering off to nothing at the sides and it is old. It's been there since I bought the house 15 years ago and does not appear to have gotten worse since I've been living there. The floor is supported by hand sewn 5x5 beams irregularly spaced roughly 24-28" on center going from foundation wall to foundation wall. These beams are perpendiculary supported by two 7x7 hand sewn beams also going from foundation wall to foundation wall. I have easy to this supporting underside. The kitchen floor presently has a vinyl self stick tile on top of plywood which is on top of the original floor boards. The kitchen cabinets are already installed on a platform to keep them level. What is the best way to deal with this?
2007-01-23 04:55:06 · 6 answers · asked by Anthony M 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Yes yes yes! You need to fix the floor because it can prevent your tiles from sticking properly. Use floor-leveling compound. It is cheap and easy, and you can find it at Lowe's or Home Depot.
You should take a look at your floor joists though to make sure that one isn't broken. That could be causing your sag.
2007-01-23 06:27:05 · answer #1 · answered by ÜFÖ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok 2 things: #1. If the new floor is shinny, the sag is going to be accentuated. All things that are shinny shows flaws.
#2. You state the cabinets are installed.Because the cabinets are installed on the outside walls and the sag is in the middle. You may get away with just taking a little off the base cabinets fronts and sides
2007-01-23 13:24:50 · answer #2 · answered by Dick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't mess around take the floor up clean it to the beams buy new or used 6x12 planks level them up screw them in from the sides, drop some 3 quarter inch good one side plywood screw them down and then do the finishing floor. it will be easier and much better
check out a place that has used lumber were are doing this all the time, even find some used plywood, what do you care its under the floor.
2007-01-23 13:51:52 · answer #3 · answered by t-bone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other than replacing the whole of the central beam structure in your kitchen ,which would make a lot off mess and work, there are latex self levelling screeds available which will bond to wood and allow for a certain amount of flex in their finish.These could be laid over the existing plywood but care should be taken to ensure that the main beams will support the screeds extra weight.
2007-01-23 13:07:56 · answer #4 · answered by Andy G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest doing the reinforcing work prior to installing expensive flooring. Jack the floor up, reinforce it and then install the new flooring. I know its expensive, but it will be worth the cost in the long run...
-dh
2007-01-23 13:14:58 · answer #5 · answered by delicateharmony 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had the same problem in my 100+ home also. we went ahead and fixed ours. better to spend the money and do it right before putting ur tile or whatever down. if u dont fix it, it could end up looking worse over time.
2007-01-23 13:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by kimmy209 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋