Leveling the floor before installing panels is a very important step that ensures not only an aesthetic appearance but also stability and durability of the substrate. Many people, including professionals, believe that the only good way to level the floor is to use a pour.
In this article, we prove that there are alternative methods for leveling the substrate that are equally effective and, moreover, less time-consuming.
Discover proven ways to level a floor without using a pour, as well as what materials can be used instead – we will particularly focus today on the underlay prepared for vinyl panels, which you can find in our offer at mexen.pl.
Can You Level a Floor Under Panels Without a Concrete Pour?
When laying floor panels, it is necessary to ensure that the surface of the floor is as smooth as possible. This will allow you to perfectly lay the panels, ensuring user comfort and extending their lifespan. In the case of finishing an apartment, the pour is usually perfectly smooth, but the situation looks a bit different during renovations. Especially if, before installing the panels, it was necessary to remove previously laid tiles.
The easiest way to level the floor is, of course, to use a self-leveling pour. However, it can significantly increase the costs of installing a new floor and takes time – the drying time of the pour depends on its type and the temperature in the room.
Fortunately, there are not only concrete self-leveling pours but also other methods to level the floor under panels. Some also suggest laying panels on an old substrate after leveling and patching any defects, but this is not always a good idea.
What Materials to Use Instead of a Pour?
Instead of a traditional concrete pour, you can use polyurethane or epoxy resins, which allow for quick leveling of the floor and achieve a perfectly smooth surface.
Epoxy resin is characterized by high resistance to mechanical damage and resistance to atmospheric factors – it isolates perfectly and does not allow moisture to pass through. However, leveling the floor with resins is quite a time-consuming task.
If you're wondering how to level a floor under panels without a pour, you need to familiarize yourself with the following proposals:
- OSB Boards are an excellent leveling material. They work well when leveling different sizes of unevenness on the floor. The advantage of OSB boards is that they are easy to install and available in various thicknesses.
- Gypsum boards are also a good choice, especially in the case of floors with larger unevenness. The boards are easy to process, allowing them to be easily adjusted to the shape of the floor.
- Extruded Polystyrene Underlays work very well as a leveling material, especially in the case of concrete floors.
- Special Underlays for Floor Panels.
As you can see, a traditional self-leveling pour is not the only or best way to level a floor under floor panels.
How to Quickly Level a Floor?
For leveling the flooring surface before laying vinyl panels, special underlays work excellently. Various types of underlays are available on the market, as they may have different properties depending on the material they are made from.
For example, underlays with a breathable membrane work excellently everywhere there is a high level of humidity, while underlays with an aluminum foil layer can be used with underfloor heating.
Which underlay you choose for vinyl panels depends on the way they are installed as well. Panels glued must have perfectly smooth substrates; otherwise, they may crack during use. Floating panels allow for slight unevenness, as they “work” differently than those glued to the floor.
After leveling the substrate and laying the underlay, you can proceed to install the panels. Make sure that the floor is completely dry and clean, and then refer to the manufacturer's instructions
How to Perform a Floor Without a Pour – Summary
Before starting to install panels on the flooring surface, it is necessary to ensure that it is as smooth as possible. A leveled floor means that the panels laid on it lie perfectly flat, which ensures optimal stability during their use. Panels adapt to the shape of the floor – if it is uneven, cracks may appear on the surface of the panels.
As you can see, finishing the floor is also possible without using a traditional concrete pour. There are many other solutions that allow for achieving a level substrate on which it will be possible to comfortably install vinyl or laminate panels. Choose the method of leveling the floor that best fits your individual needs