Self-Leveling Underlayments and Floor Leveling

Serving Charlotte, Raleigh, and throughout North Carolina & South Carolina

A floor is only as good as the surface it’s installed over. United Floor Coatings provides high-performance underlayment and floor leveling solutions that correct problem slabs and create a smooth, stable surface for nearly any finish.

Our work supports not only resinous flooring and polished concrete, but also traditional floor coverings that demand flat, properly prepared substrates—tile, hardwood, LVT, sheet vinyl, carpet, and more. We work with general contractors, flooring contractors, property owners, and facility managers across the Carolinas, Virginia, and surrounding markets to get slabs within tolerance and under control before finishes go down.

What Is a Floor Underlayment and Why It Matters

A floor underlayment is a cement-based or polymer-modified layer installed over concrete to correct imperfections and provide a smooth, level, and stable surface. It is often the difference between a floor that performs and a floor that fails.

Underlayments are used to:

• Correct low spots, birdbaths, and uneven pours
• Improve flatness and levelness for tile, hardwood, and LVT installations
• Eliminate trowel marks, ridges, and surface defects
• Restore worn, damaged, or previously patched concrete
• Meet manufacturer flatness requirements for sensitive finishes
• Transition between different slab heights or adjoining finishes

For traditional floor coverings, underlayments help prevent issues like hollow spots under tile, cracked grout lines, lippage, telegraphing through vinyl, and gaps or squeaks under hardwood. For resinous coatings and polished concrete, they help ensure an even appearance and consistent performance.

Underlayment Systems We Install

United Floor Coatings installs a full range of cementitious and polymer-modified underlayments tailored to both coating systems and floor coverings, including:

• Self-leveling underlayments for fast, pump-applied leveling over large areas
• High-strength repair mortars for rebuilding spalled joints, edges, and damaged sections
• Feather-finish compounds for tight skim coats and detailed transitions at doorways and elevations
• Slope-to-drain underlayments in restrooms, mechanical rooms, kitchens, and wash-down areas
• Heavy-duty underlayments designed to support industrial traffic and forklift loads under epoxy or urethane cement

We select the system based on the final finish (tile, hardwood, LVT, carpet, epoxy, polished concrete, etc.), traffic conditions, moisture levels, and schedule.

Applications for Traditional Floor Coverings

Many of our underlayment projects are driven by the requirements of conventional flooring systems. Common scenarios include:

• Tile and stone installations that require strict flatness to control lippage and cracking
• Engineered hardwood and laminate floors that need smooth, uniform substrates to avoid movement, squeaks, and hollow spots
• LVT and sheet vinyl installations where telegraphing from imperfections is a concern
• Carpet over pad or direct-glue carpet that needs clean, level surfaces for proper adhesion
• Renovations where old slabs have patches, trenches, or multiple elevation changes

We frequently work directly with flooring contractors to handle the heavy prep and underlayment work so their crews can install finishes faster and with fewer callbacks.

Moisture Mitigation and Adhesive Compatibility

Flat isn’t enough if the slab is wet. Many flooring failures are caused by moisture vapor transmission, not just surface irregularities. For traditional floor coverings, high moisture can lead to:

• Adhesive failure and debonding
• Cupping and warping of hardwood
• Mold or mildew under resilient flooring
• Discoloration and bubbling in vinyl and rubber floors

United Floor Coatings can integrate moisture mitigation into the underlayment scope. When required, we install moisture vapor barrier systems beneath the underlayment layer, then use compatible primers and cementitious products so the entire system—MVB, underlayment, and floor covering—works together as designed.

Industries and Project Types

Our underlayment and leveling services are used on a wide variety of commercial and industrial projects, including:

• Retail, grocery, and big-box stores
• Office build-outs and corporate interiors
• Multifamily corridors, units, and amenity spaces
• Schools, churches, and institutional facilities
• Manufacturing plants and warehouses
• Healthcare and medical office projects
• Hospitality, restaurants, and entertainment spaces

On many jobs, we coordinate with flooring installers, tile contractors, and general contractors to ensure the slab is ready when they are.

Our Underlayment Installation Process

Every project is approached with a focus on substrate integrity, moisture control, and the requirements of the final finish:

1. Site evaluation and slab assessment
   We assess flatness, levelness, existing coatings or adhesives, patchwork, and any visible damage. If needed, we coordinate or perform moisture testing.
2. Surface preparation
   We mechanically profile the concrete using shot blasting or diamond grinding, remove adhesives and contaminants, and complete any necessary crack and joint repairs.
3. Moisture mitigation (if required)
   When moisture results exceed manufacturer limits, we install a compatible moisture vapor barrier system before installing the underlayment.
4. Priming and detailing
   We prime the slab according to manufacturer guidelines and address critical areas such as drains, terminations, transitions, and control joints.
5. Placement of underlayment
   The selected underlayment is placed—often pump-applied on larger projects—and brought to the specified elevation or flatness standard.
6. Cure, inspection, and coordination with flooring trades
   After curing, we inspect the surface for flatness and quality, then release the floor to the flooring contractor or proceed with our own coatings or polishing crew if we’re providing the finished system.

Benefits for Flooring Contractors and General Contractors

Partnering with a dedicated underlayment contractor helps keep projects on track and reduces risk:

• Floors are within manufacturer tolerances for tile, hardwood, LVT, and other finishes
• Fewer callbacks for cracked tile, hollow sounds, or telegraphing issues
• Single-source responsibility when we handle moisture mitigation, underlayment, and finished floor
• Faster production with pump-applied systems and experienced crews
• Clear scopes and documentation to support warranty requirements

We are comfortable stepping in as a substrate-prep partner for flooring contractors or as a direct subcontractor to the general contractor.

Why Choose United Floor Coatings for Underlayments?

• Deep experience with both concrete restoration and finished flooring performance
• Trained crews that specialize in surface prep, moisture mitigation, and underlayments
• Ability to support traditional floor coverings, resinous coatings, and polished concrete within a single project
• Detailed proposals that explain the scope, materials, and expectations upfront
• Commitment to schedule, safety, and coordination on active job sites

Because we live in the world of concrete and coatings every day, we know what each type of finish needs from the slab beneath it.

Service Area

United Floor Coatings provides underlayment installation and floor leveling services throughout:

• North Carolina, including Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Wilmington, and Fayetteville
• South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Florence, and Rock Hill
• Virginia and nearby regional markets, depending on project size and scope

Larger projects outside these core areas may also be considered.

Get a Quote for Underlayments and Floor Leveling

If your project includes tile, hardwood, LVT, carpet, epoxy, or polished concrete and the slab is not where it needs to be, we can help you get it back into tolerance.

For commercial and industrial work, call 866-798-2655.

For residential and small projects in the Charlotte area, call 704-659-6985.

You can also request a quote online, and our team will review your plans, specs, and schedule.