How To Make Floor Joists Level

Severe cracks in concrete slabs need to be filled with concrete epoxy to ensure the slab doesn t continue to crack and separate.

How to make floor joists level.

To level the entire floor it is best to start with the two end joists. On the top side of the floor another fix it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor. Then a string line can be fixed to the top of these two new joists giving you the level for the joists in between. Floor joists are an important part of any floor.

Run a string line across perpendicular to the joists maybe an inch above where you want the joists to end up make sure it is perfectly level then you can quickly check the accuracy of the floor joist by measuring down from the string line. When choosing boards to be the floor joists it s important to use a high quality grade of wood and to make sure it s free from defects such as knots. Leveling the floor with shims is when you attach thin wedge shaped pieces of wood on top of the low areas of the joists to make the top joists even. The string line would be fixed in position x in the diagram below.

If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists. Learning how to install floor joists properly is very important for your home. Use screws to fasten the subfloor to the joists. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings.

They help support the foundation and make the floor solid. Setting the joists perfectly level at the house is easy and the beam makes them fairly even near the front edge but the problem is in the middle. Even though we use 1 pt lumber the joists are often slightly warped or vary in depth at times causing adjacent joists to differ in height by as much as 1 2 inch or more. Before you start to level a wood subfloor make sure the subflooring is attached well to the floor joists.