Different floor heights when laying laminate

christy02

Hi,

We are doing up our new (old) house and I we are opening up the back dining room and kitchen/ dining area. I am putting the same laminate all the way through ( roughly 40m2).
The dining room was an extension and where the extension starts there is a slight difference in levels. Approximately 5cm higher.

I know best route would be to level rest of floor up to that but not so inclined to go down that route.

Could I put an extra layer of underlay under the lower part? I have seen the underlay tiles in 5mm thick that would cover the difference.
Then just put my regular underlay over the top?

Other option is to put a join in but not sure if this would look odd?

If I used an extra layer of underlay would floor feel soft underfoot or would it work out ok?

Sorry for lengthy post. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Chris

Idbatterim

What surface are you laying in onto where you wish to make up the 5mm ? Concrete or plywood ?

christy02

Idbatterim wrote: »

What surface are you laying in onto where you wish to make up the 5mm ? Concrete or plywood ?

Sorry they are concrete floors (bungalow).

listermint

is it 5mm or is it 5cm ? Two very different prospects.

Realistically no underlay is not the solution here , why ? because you will have a break in the boards where the two rooms intersect. The movement of these two different heights will bend crack and damage the laminates.

you either have to level the floors completely pouring concrete or self levelling (although some are 3mm max) or you need to put down ply or osb to level up that room. pouring being the optimal option

Idbatterim

would cement board , even a 6mm one? im sure the op means 5mm, the is an issue in my family home where laminate has been put down, real pain in the ass when there is a change in levels!

what about backing board? I mean you can make up a bit with more underlay, but not 5mm in my opinion

christy02

Hi apologies it’s 5mm. By backing board do you mean the felt underlay type boards?

BrokenArrows

christy02 wrote: »

Hi apologies it’s 5mm. By backing board do you mean the felt underlay type boards?

No, it's a board similar in style to plasterboard but harder. Made with a mix of cement usually.

christy02

Ok cement board available in 6mm which would work ok. So if I get a few sheets of this, cut to size and fix in place with grab adhesive?
Then just lay flooring over the top as normal. Would this work?

the_pen_turner

6mm ply would work just as well and be a lot easier and cleaner to work with.

christy02

the_pen_turner wrote: »

6mm ply would work just as well and be a lot easier and cleaner to work with.

Even on concrete floors?

ZX7R

you could always use a joining
trim

GolfNut33

the_pen_turner wrote: »

6mm ply would work just as well and be a lot easier and cleaner to work with.

This.

D13exile

Ply is the easiest and less costly solution to level the floor. Packing extra underlay under won't work as all underlay gets "squashed" eventually and loses some of its original thickness and the lower floor level would eventually cause the boards (particularly the ones that have joins near the "drop") to crack open.

christy02

D13exile wrote: »

Ply is the easiest and less costly solution to level the floor. Packing extra underlay under won't work as all underlay gets "squashed" eventually and loses some of its original thickness and the lower floor level would eventually cause the boards (particularly the ones that have joins near the "drop") to crack open.

Thanks for this. Think this is what I will do.