PSA: I used to level floors with a 4-foot level and shims like a clown

For like 5 years I was doing subfloor prep the hard way. I'd lay down self leveler, wait 12 hours, then come back with a 4-foot level and a bag of shims trying to spot fix every low spot by hand. Took me 3 full days to do a 12x12 room in my last house in Phoenix. Then a buddy at the lumber yard told me to just use a laser level and pour self leveler in sections. Now I set up a cheap Bosch laser, mark my high points, and pour in 4x4 sections at a time. Covers the same area in maybe 4 hours total, including cleanup. Has anyone else switched from manual shimming to a laser for floor leveling and felt dumb for not doing it sooner?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_lee4d ago

Hang on, I gotta push back a little here. I've been doing floors for almost twenty years and I still use a 4-foot level and shims for a lot of my prep work. A laser tells you where the high spots are, sure, but it doesn't tell you how flat the surface actually is between those points. Self leveler is great for big dips, but those tiny low spots and bumps that mess up tile or vinyl plank? I catch those way better with a straight edge and shims than with any laser. Plus, pouring self leveler in sections leaves cold joints unless you're really careful about timing, and that can cause problems later. I guess if you're working with really flat engineered floors it might work, but for old houses with sagging subfloors I'll stick with my level.

adams.troy4d ago

Come on @patricia_lee, you really think a 4 foot level catches everything? Lasers are way more precise across a whole room. You can't see a gradual slope with a straight edge if it's over 4 feet, but a laser will show it right away. Self leveler's fine for most jobs if you just plan your pours right.