Hey everyone! I'm working on fixing up my grandparents' small guest bathroom in their manufactured home. They had a leak around the toilet that went unnoticed, which caused the particle board floor to warp downwards towards the back of the toilet. Since they are on a tight budget, I'm stepping in to help replace the flooring and the toilet. I can manage those jobs easily, but I'm unsure how to level out that dip in the floor. Most floor levelers seem to be water-based, and I've heard that's not ideal for particle board since it absorbs moisture. The dip is about 3/4" deep at its worst and the area is roughly 2'x1'. I dried out the floor, and it seems structurally sound. Any product recommendations that would work for this situation? I'd love something that self-levels! Thanks a lot for your help!
2 Answers
Honestly, it sounds like you need to replace that part of the floor. Once particle board gets wet, its integrity goes out the window, and it can cause issues with mildew. You might want to consider using OSB instead of particle board; it’s generally cheaper and more reliable. If you're already tearing out the old floor, it might be worth it to put in something better right off the bat!
Best bet is to cut out the warped particle board and replace it with some quality plywood. If you're really focused on leveling it without replacement, using a non-water-based filler like bondo might work for that small area, but it’s going to require some layering and sanding to get it right. Just be cautious if you decide to go that route!
Totally agree! If you can cut out just the damaged area, make sure to reach a beam to secure the new piece, and don't forget to replace any leaky toilet parts while you're at it!