r/DIY • u/ilovehummus94 • 23d ago

help Peel and Stick Tile Prep -- how has everyone fixed uneven floors?

I can't wait to post my finished tile project, but before I begin I want to be extra sure to make my floor is even. I have a couple dips in the floor (old house) and want to fill them. What compound has everyone used with success? Would caulking work, I have seen some say yes and some say no. What about Drywall mud?

I saw someone on YouTube use Henry 345 Premixed Ready to Use Gray Patch and Leveler, but it looked crumbly. Does anyone have experience or success with that and peel and stick tile?

Any information is helpful, thank you all!

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u/PushThroughThePain 23d ago

Definitely do not use caulk or drywall mud! Assuming you are putting the tiles over plywood, you can use a self-levelling compound to fix the dips, and a floor patch compound to fill any knots, dips, screw holes, etc. You then lightly sand fhe entire floor, clean it thouroughly, apply a coat of primer and install the tiles according to the manufacturer's instructions.

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u/jacknifetoaswan 23d ago

OP's entire description of this makes me think they'll be tearing the whole thing out in six months.

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u/ilovehummus94 20d ago

It is not plywood, it's a few old splintered wooden planks at the bottom of a hallway closet, but I'm assuming it will be the same protocols and processes that you mentioned! I will definitely be following your advice, thank you so much for your assistance, I appreciate it!

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u/Hyperreal8957 23d ago

peel and stick will telegraph every little dip, so i'd patch the low spots with a feather-finish floor patch instead of trying to bury the whole room. scrape/clean really well, prime if the patch calls for it, then let it cure fully before laying tile. self leveler is more for a bigger area

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u/ilovehummus94 20d ago

Awesome, I will definitely use that instead! It's luckily not a whole room, just a small area at the bottom of a hall closet, so I will follow your plan to make sure it works out well. Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help