Post-war bungalows and back-splits are some of the best-built houses in the GTA. They are also around seventy years old, and that shows in the floors. Neighbourhoods across Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke and older parts of Oshawa are full of them.
What we find
Uneven floors, almost always. Decades of settlement mean self-levelling compound is part of nearly every bungalow floor we tile. On a large main floor it is a real part of the job, and it isn’t optional if you want large format tile.
Board subfloors under the plywood. Many of these homes have original plank subfloors with plywood added later. That layered build moves differently and needs an uncoupling membrane without exception.
Solid joists, close spacing. The good news. Old-growth lumber and closer joist spacing than modern code means floor bounce is less of a problem than the age suggests.
Small original bathrooms. Often around 5 by 7 feet. Worth thinking about the layout while the walls are open.
How levelling works
- Find the high and low points with a long straightedge or laser.
- Prime the subfloor so the compound bonds and doesn’t dry out too fast.
- Pour self-levelling compound, feathering it into the low areas.
- Let it cure — usually overnight before tile can go down.
It adds a day and some material. It is also the difference between a floor that looks flat in raking window light and one that shows every ridge.
Basements are the other big job
Most of these bungalows have full basements, and finishing them is one of the most common projects we are asked about. Below grade needs porcelain, a moisture-tested slab and crack isolation. Details in our guide to flooring damp basements.
Realistic expectations
A bungalow floor costs more per square foot than the same floor in a 2010 subdivision home, and the difference is all preparation. That preparation is what makes the tile last, and we would rather explain it at the estimate than surprise you with it halfway through.
Get a free estimate
Ultra Renovations Inc has been installing tile across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa and the wider GTA for over ten years. We are a registered Ontario corporation with general liability insurance.
Call (647) 648-8985 or request a free estimate and we will come out, measure properly, look at your subfloor, and give you a written quote for your home at no cost.