Q: My business leases the second floor of a 1906 with very uneven hardwood floors. They have dips and valleys all over and the owner of the building doesn’t want us to carpet or replace the existing floors. Is there a self leveling clear epoxy or topcoat that can be poured over the existing floors to eliminate the roller coaster effect?
A: The answer is NO and given your landlords view, I wouldn’t spend a penny. There is no magic cure none the less. New floors.
Related Q: Are there any pourable, self-leveling products available to even out a wood subfloor, that can be nailed through when installing the final hardwood? There is a variance of about 3/8′ scattered over this 18′ x 22′ floor, the largest dip being about 2′ x 3′. The subfloor is oak planking nailed directly to the joists.
A: I wouldn’t consider oak plank to be a sub floor. I’ve seen this sort of installation a few times before, nailing hardwood directly to the joist. I think that was someones attempt to save money. Your best bet is to remove all the oak, shim the joists as needed, screw down 3/4 sheeting, and then your plank floor on top of that.
Similar Q: Can floor leveling compound be used on top of the old tile that appears to be petroleum based (has black tar glue under it)?
A: You want to know something? I am not an expert on every compound and finish on the market. But I go by a fundamental principal: The floor we walk on will be only as good and solid or influenced by what it sits on. Therefore, I am not a fan of skimping on the sub floor work. Peel it all off to the sub floor or even the joists if need be to find a sound structure from which to install a new floor.