How to check the floor level in an apartment yourself?

Despite the fact that it may seem difficult, checking the floor level in your apartment is a simple process that you can complete on your own with a few simple tools. For both your planned flooring projects and the preservation of the structural integrity of your house, it is imperative that you make sure your floor is level. Finding the floor level is an important skill whether you want to check the evenness of your current flooring or plan to install new tiles or laminate.

From bothersome squeaks to more significant structural problems, uneven floors can lead to a variety of issues. By taking the time to personally check the floor level, you can spot any areas that require maintenance and take care of them before they worsen. It’s an early action that will ultimately save you money and time.

Fortunately, accurate results can be obtained without the need for professional expertise. It is quick and easy to determine how level your floor is with instruments like a spirit level, laser level, or even a regular marble. This tutorial will take you through the various techniques and offer advice to help you obtain the most accurate readings.

After reading this article, you should be able to check the floor level in your apartment and know what to do to fix any problems you discover. Let’s get going and make sure your floors are level as we go!

Floor level measurement methods

The following is required to ascertain the horizon level, also known as zero:

• laser or hydraulic level;
• roulette;
• pencil;
• a special cord for beating lines (you can make it yourself by rubbing a simple cord with chalk or charcoal).

The level type selection is based on:

• financial capabilities of the work contractor (the price of a laser level is quite high, up to 20.0 thousand. rub., and when installing beacons for floor screeding with your own hands, there is no point in buying it);
• skills (work experience).

Without a laser level, determining a floor’s evenness can be done considerably more affordably. You can rent a laser level if you’ve never used a hydraulic level before, and it won’t break the bank.

Hydraulic level

A hydraulic level is the most basic tool for breaking off the horizon line (zero) and screeds. It is a hose with two clear flasks, or containers, that have markings applied to them. The work is based on the physical characteristics of liquid in level-installed communicating vessels.

While it takes two people to complete, the work quality is equal to that of using a laser level to determine the level for pouring floor screed, and it is significantly less expensive (you can make it yourself).

Advice: If you don’t have a water level handy, you can make one by attaching transparent plastic or glass flasks to the ends of a long rubber tube or by using a transparent plastic hose.

For these uses, the plastic fuel supply tube found in diesel cars is perfect. Flasks are not necessary in this instance. After adding water to the system, the apparatus is operational.

Operating instructions

It is evident from a number of online instructions that the authors have never used a hydraulic level. As a result, we provide a step-by-step description of the entire work process.

1. At a height of one and a half meters a mark is placed on the wall. This is the starting point of the zero line.
2. Two people take a hydraulic level and approach the wall a meter from each other. One of them should be next to the mark.
3. Apply a level to the wall at approximately the same (any, but preferably closer to the mark) height.
4. Wait 20 seconds for the water to calm down.
5. Using simultaneous, slow up and down movements, ensure that the water level matches the set mark at the first end of the hose.
6. Again wait 20 seconds and note the water level at the second end of the hose.
7. The procedure is repeated in the same order around the entire perimeter of the room.

It’s critical to realize that the marks are positioned in relation to the horizon rather than the floor because the former frequently has a slope, occasionally reaching a height of 10 cm. Marks are made with a construction cord in a single line. If there isn’t a cord, you can use a pencil and strip to draw a straight line.

Important: for novice builders only. When taking measurements, make sure the water level in the flasks matches the same digital values if the hydraulic level at both ends of the hose is tightly closed. If this isn’t done, the measurements will be distorted because of the air pressure on the water in a closed vessel.

This is not required in levels that have open endings. Another crucial element in this situation is making sure that the hose’s two ends are securely closed with a finger when adjusting the measurement point. It is preferable to take out the flasks if the factory hose is translucent. It’s less complicated.

Using a tape measure, measure the highest point on the floor base (floor) starting from the horizon line. It will line up with the least amount of space between the floor and the horizon. This will be used to calculate the screed line.

Important: in cases where there is no slope but there are raised areas that resemble tubercles, these points are eliminated and the variations in floor heights with respect to the zero line are measured.

How do I find the screed, or more accurately, the floor level? Make a mark after deducting the screed thickness from the smallest measurement value. Draw a screed line parallel to the horizon line along it and along the walls once more. Measure the distances from the horizon line with a tape measure and make several marks for convenience.

Calculation example: from the horizon line (blue line) to the floor, when measuring in different places of the room with a tape measure, the results were: 1.54 m, 1.53 m, 1.52 m, 1.50 m. The highest place at the base of the floor at the point where the tape measure recorded the figure 1.50 m (the minimum distance from the horizon line to the base). Then the screed line (red line) will be at a distance of 1.37 m (150 cm – 13 cm) from the horizon line (the calculation is conditional, in most cases 3 cm is subtracted. In this case, the screed line will pass along the mark 147 cm from the zero line).

Occasionally, someone may suggest using a rack and pinion level for comparable tasks.

Bubble level

Several resources that cover different technologies for tapping a screed line suggest that a bubble level, also known as a flat level, be used for these tasks. It is theoretically possible to do such work. In actuality, no. Why? There are a number of issues here, none of which the writers address.

1. How can the floor’s levelness in the center of the room be verified? The presence of unevenness can be detected using a meter level, but a comparative analysis can only be performed if the level is fixed on the wall and can be compared with other height differences. The recommendations don’t specify how to project a protrusion from the room’s center floor base onto the wall.

2. The following steps are provided in the instructions for using a bubble level to determine the screed horizon:

1. A mark is placed on the wall along which it is planned to pour the screed;
2. A level is applied to the mark. Moving it to the side, they go through the entire perimeter of the room, drawing a line with a pencil. If the line converges, the screed level is ready.

It’s a very quick and easy process, but how do you account for the ledges in the center of the room?

One more crucial point. The thickness of the screed is either overestimated or underestimated when determined by eye. The entire structure will collapse if the screed is filled in some places with a thickness of less than 3 cm. When the thickness is overestimated, the load on the floors is significantly increased, which raises the cost of the work.

In conclusion, it is dubious to use the bubble level as advice.

Laser level

A novice repairman can install beacons for a floor screed using a laser level. After that, we locate a location in the room where the laser beam enters (at least one) other rooms:

1. set the level at a height of 1-1.5 m;
2. we make beam marks in all rooms so that when moving to another room it is possible to combine the laser beam with the existing horizon line;
3. using the beam as a zero line, we find the highest point of the base in a given room (there is no need to hit the line – it is replaced by a laser beam);
4. we transfer the level to the adjacent room and combine the beam with the mark set earlier (we place it so that it hits the next room);
5. determine the highest point of this room;
6. after measuring all the rooms of the apartment (house), we find the highest point of the base of the apartment floor. From this we will calculate the screed line.

Advice for novices: how can a laser level be used to level a floor? Simply set it up on any stand. The laser level inside the housing automatically assumes a strictly horizontal and vertical position with the aid of a gyroscope.

Measure the middle of each room as well, as there might be a higher spot there, after you’ve finished the walls and corners. Place self-tapping screws in a random pattern on opposing walls along the screed line to accomplish this. Using a square, we measure the distances between them after stretching the cords. Raise the screed line by the same amount if there is a gap of less than 30 mm between the lace and the floor’s base.

Applying the measurement results to the walls in the original location is preferable. Making a plan of the apartment and noting the distance from the horizon line to the floor’s base is an alternate method. By doing this, it will be possible to level the base in one room without making mistakes or needing to measure the same area twice.

Rotational level

A new kind of laser level called a rotary level has entered the construction tool market thanks to technological advancements. Five planes can be measured with its assistance. Its unique quality is that, unlike linear laser levels, it can operate in expansive spaces up to 200–600 m.

How can a rotary laser level be used to check floor level? The technology of zero level tapping with a linear laser and the usage instructions match exactly.

Due to its high cost, professionals from large companies are the only ones who use it.

Using simple tools like a spirit level, laser level, or even a marble, you can easily check the floor level in your apartment. You can make sure that your floors are level by following a few simple steps, which is important for both structural integrity and aesthetics. This tutorial will lead you through the procedure, assisting you in locating any uneven areas so you can take the appropriate measures to correct them.

Beacon line marking

How are beacons positioned beneath a floor screed? Initially, we ascertain the quantity of beacon rows and their separation from one another. Simple guidelines to follow when marking a line of beacons are as follows:

1. the distance of the outer beacons from the parallel wall is 10-30 cm;
2. the distance between beacons is marked less than the rule;
3. direction – perpendicular to the wall with the door, which will ensure convenient filling of the last meters of screed (you can stick out into the doorway).

Let’s demonstrate the calculation’s process. We use conditional data to accomplish this:

• room width 6.8 m;
• rule – 1.5 m;
• the distance between the wall and the first row of beacons is 20 cm;
• distance between the outer rows – 6.4 m (7.1 m – 0.2 m – 0.2 m).

The space inside between beacons must be less than 1.3 m in order for the rule to fit the other end to the following beacons, since the rule needs to account for the distance between the wall and the first row (20 cm) of beacons. The number of beacon lines that separate the outer rows is determined by 6.4/1.3 = 4.9 (5). This indicates that there are a total of 6 rows (5+1), with a 1.28 m (6.4/5) distance between each row.

The computations vary when the rule’s size is altered. For instance, there are five beacon lines overall for a rule length of two meters.

As a point of reference, we divide the distance between the outer rows by this figure since four rows equals five rows of spacing.

Installing beacons is the last step before pouring the screed; you can move on to this step by tapping all the lines.

Conclusion

Any newbie in the construction industry can easily knock out a tie line. It’s crucial to exercise caution and complete the tasks precisely in the correct order:

• draw a horizon line on the wall;
• along the perimeter of the room, measure the distances from the applied markings to the base of the floor;
• subtract 3 cm from the shortest segment and mark this point on the wall;
• through the resulting zero point, draw a line parallel to the horizon line on the wall;
• take measurements of the floor in the middle of the room. If necessary, raise the tie line;
• carry out calculations and mark the passage of beacons on the floor.

Method	Description
Bubble Level	Place the bubble level on the floor in various spots to see if it is level. Adjust and check multiple areas for accuracy.
Laser Level	Set up the laser level and project a line across the room. Measure the distance from the floor to the laser line at different points.
Marble Test	Place a marble on the floor and observe if it rolls. If it does, the floor is not level.
String Line	Stretch a string line tightly across the room at floor level. Measure the gap between the floor and the string at various points.

To keep your home’s integrity and appearance intact, you must make sure your floor is level. You can quickly check your floor level on your own by using the easy instructions in this article, which will save you money and time compared to hiring a professional.

First, assemble the required equipment, such as a laser level, straight edge, and spirit level. You can precisely measure any variations in your floor’s level with the aid of these tools. Whether you choose to use a laser pointer or a conventional level, follow the instructions to obtain an accurate assessment of the state of your floor.

Don’t forget to examine the floor from several angles to find any uneven areas. This all-inclusive method guarantees that you detect any anomalies that could impact your flooring or furniture arrangement. If you discover serious problems, think about the actions required to fix them, whether it calls for a small tweak or a more involved restoration.

You can keep your living area secure and comfortable by following these guidelines. Frequent inspections and upkeep will ensure that future issues are avoided and that your house continues to be a welcoming place. Have faith in your ability to maintain your home’s upkeep and level floors.

Video on the topic

How to quickly check floor differences using a laser level.

How to check the levelness of the floor or how to find out the difference in floor height.

Determining the level of the clean floor!

How to find the floor height level at the highest point of an apartment or room – filmed

How to determine the level for a floor screed. How to find the highest point of the floor in an apartment.

HOW TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF THE FLOOR SCREED?