Nothing defines a beautiful house than stunning floors. After all, they are the only thing that attracts people toward beautiful homes. Regardless of the material used and the age of the floor, it gives character, beauty as well as value to the house. However, if the foundation is on the expansive soil, floors experience movements thereby causing an imbalance in the ground.
Sometimes, even the newly constructed homes experience movements thus hampering the level of the floor.
So, how will you level the floor?
Well, there are many ways to level up the ground, the easiest one and the most popular one is using a screw jack.
But, what is a screw jack and how it can be used?
A screw jack is used in the solid wood post between the concrete piers in the rafters and crawlspace to provide support to the floor. It will provide metal support that the professional can adjust accordingly with the ground.
It also consists of two massive steel pipes within each other. The internal pipe is threaded and adjusted in the upward and downward direction by turning the wing nut of the large pipe. The jack is then attached to the nails at the underside of the rafter and on the wooden block on the top of a concrete pier.
Let’s dive in to know how you can level up the floor:
- Use a hydraulic jack, short post and screw piers to uplift the floor
- Bring nail puller, a sledgehammer, and hammer to remove the underpinning nails and wood post
- Put the screw jack at the center below the grinder and on the concrete pier
- Now, adjust the screw jack to make the top and bottom plates adjacent to each other.
- Put nails in the holes in the plates and to the wood framing
- Pull down the hydraulic jack and let the load fall on the new screw jack
- Adjust the screw jack to achieve the level of the surface
Once you are done with leveling, use the waterproof tiles to make the floor firm, rigid and free from moisture. You can use:
- Porcelain tile:
These tiles are usually used in showers, pools and other water areas. They are water-resistant and has high absorption rate.
- Ceramic tiles:
Like porcelain tiles, the ceramic once is also water resistant and are superior for the areas with high intensity of moisture. They are more porous and more impervious to the moisture content than other tiles.
- Luxury Vinyl Flooring:
These floor coverings come in long planks featuring the lock and fold style joints to provide a tight seal against water-logging.
Step-By-Step Method to Level-up The Floor
Estimate How Much Area You Want To Level:
Use a taut string or laser level and construct a straight line from one corner to another to gauge on the level. Repeat the process for the complete house and measure the distance on eth floors. This will help you know the lowest portion of the floor.
Mark the position:
Once you know where the bent is, put a mark it! This will help you gaze the floor that need elevation. Now, build a temporary post using concrete or wooden blocks. Place them one above other on the ground under the plummet to give elevation.
Buy a Hydraulic Jack:
When there’s enough space above the temporary post, place the jack under the floor and start jacking. Once the house start moving upward, start adding small blocks to provide support to the elevation.
Remove the Jack Once Done:
Once you are done raising the lowest point, remove the jack carefully and let the floor rest on the temporary blocks.
Repeat the Process:
Built another temporary post and repeat the process.
Place Permanent Support:
Once the floor is stable on the temporary posts, shift them to the permanent one.
For providing firm and rigid foundation, flooring is one thing that one should look. A hard and durable floor will not only add glare and vibrancy to the place but will also make the whole house look amazing. However, if you are living in the area where you have uneven floors, use the steps mentioned above and balance the levels with ease.
