Different Floor Levels

In almost every house that I have rehabbed, I have had to deal with a floor elevation problem which I am sure others here have dealt with too. When someone before me has built an additional bedroom or laundry room on to an existing house, where the floors meet at the threshold there is an elevation difference. If this elevation difference is less than 1 inch, then a piece of quarter round is all that is needed. Right now I am dealing with an elevation difference of 2.5 inches which creates a real tripping hazard.

Anyone care to offer a solution to this? I just need a smooth transition between 2 rooms here. --70.158.xxx.xx

Different Floor Levels (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 8:19 AM
Message:

Build a ramp if possible and carpet from the lower room to the upper room so it's a gradual transition. Works best in hallway setting.

You could also lay subfloor over the lower room before new flooring to make it a smaller gap --50.107.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 8:20 AM
Message:

Build a ramp if possible and carpet from the lower room to the upper room so it's a gradual transition. Works best in hallway setting.

You could also lay subfloor over the lower room before new flooring to make it a smaller gap --50.107.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 8:39 AM
Message:

Is this a raised foundation or cement slab?

I worked on a home with a middle room (dinning Room) between the kitchen and living room, that was also off by over 2 inches from side to side. They had carpeting and used thick padding to even thing out the best way possible at the time.

The owners wanted to install hardwood flooring in the in this area but no flooring guy offered a solution. So I took on the job, sending the owners packing for a weekend in Las Vegas.

I removed all of the furniture from the dinning room. Pulled the carpeting, padding and tack strip. Then removed to old uneven original flooring. This floor was off 2-1/2 inches from side to side and 1-3/4 inches in length. I exposed the floor joist's.

Using levels I determined the High and Low Spots. Some area's a used my electric hand plane and removed wood. Other areas I added strips of tapper cut wood. After making the joist's completely level, I installed a new sub-floor, plywood.

--47.155.xx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 9:00 AM
Message:

Yes, building a miniature ramp is the most practical solution here (I like Robert J's idea but tearing out the sub-floor down to the joist is not practical).

Now, I need carpentry ideas on how to build this ramp that would be about 6-8 inches long and 32 inches wide.

--68.63.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 9:17 AM
Message:

Well, you want your ramp to end flush with your top floor and stop at a certain point going out on your lower floor. Get those two measurements and take about 5/8 of an inch off of your height and your length. Then cut 2 x 4 chunks at an angle for whatever those measurements are. Install one about every six or 8 inches. Then cut a piece of plywood to fill the length times width overall. Once that is installed, you should be at the top floor height and where you want to stop on your lower floor. Once the carpet is installed, it will fill in the void's. --50.107.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 9:21 AM
Message:

If your top floor is finished and isn't getting height added to it with carpet or hardwood, etc., you will need to take a little more off the height of your angle cuts of wood. Whatever the finished height is of the upper floor, subtract The thickness of your new flooring and the thickness of your 8" x 32" piece of subfloor. That way once you install your angled piece of 2 x 4 and then your subfloor and then your new flooring, everything will end up being at the same height of the upper floor. Does that make sense? --50.107.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 10:16 AM
Message:

Yes NE that does make sense, however, I will need to think about it.

There is no carpet here. My upper level is cheap wood laminate and my lower level got new Allure put down yesterday over a plywood sub-floor. I will need to re-measure my elevation drop and use your method for creating the ramp using 2x4's cut at an angle.

Would you use a chop saw to cut the 2x4's to the slope you want? I would assume the angle cut 2x4's are screwed down to the sub-floor.

Thanks in advance. --68.63.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 10:26 AM
Message:

Just build the ramp and make an allowance for the new allure. Put allure on the ramp and just put a thresh at the top and the bottom. --174.198.x.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 10:32 AM
Message:

I got it figured out in my head now. Thanks again. --68.63.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 11:11 AM
Message:

IMO you should try to make the ramp at least 12". A chop saw would not be my first choice to use. I would use either a circular saw or a table saw & use 5 cleats to make your 32" wide ramp. --71.174.xxx.xx

Different Floor Levels (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 11:39 AM
Message:

Somebody can trip on a ramp, too - especially the side.

How large is the lower room?

Why not just build the floor up to even? Like 2x2's perpendicular to current joists - on top of current subfloor - then topped with plywood.

Never worry about it again. --70.160.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 12:15 PM
Message:

Cut out from cardboard a section and transfer this onto the end of a 2x8, head down the table saw with that lumber. --76.188.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: Aug 6, 2020 2:41 PM
Message:

If it's just one small room that is lower you could lay 2x4's flat and perpendicular to the floor joists and cover it with 3/4 inch plywood to raise the whole floor up to about the same level. If your measurements are accurate this will be within 1/4". You may need to shim the 2X4's next to the higher floor to make it even (less 3/4 for the plywood) before you put the sheathing on it. --64.130.xx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Aug 7, 2020 1:15 AM
Message:

Roy,

Personally I find little ramps more of a trip hazard than a 2.5" step.

Just put an aluminum 90 degree bullnose on it and be done.

BRAD

--73.102.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Aug 7, 2020 5:14 AM
Message:

Trip hazards like this are one of the main reasons that I do not use regular framing stock for floor joists when putting an addition on to an existing building. I've found that by using TJI floor joists & TJI rim boards, we can easily make smooth transitions from the new addition into the old part of the building. --71.174.xxx.xx

Different Floor Levels (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Aug 7, 2020 7:47 AM
Message:

Thanks Brad and others for your suggestions. Today I will go shopping for some 90 degree Bullnose trim. That may be just the thing I need. I did re-measure the elevation drop and my earlier measurements were incorrect. My drop is 1.5 inches and not 2.5. --68.63.xxx.xxx

Different Floor Levels (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Aug 7, 2020 8:52 AM
Message:

My rooming house had a few little changes like that between rooms.

I made sure to point them out & officially notify the new resident in writing, in the rental agreement, that they were there. They & their guests need to be aware & careful, & not hold me liable if they trip, because they have been warned the pre-existing condition. --70.160.xxx.xxx

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Different Floor Levels

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