We have a garage that was converted to a family room. Due to water damage, the carpet was ruined and ripped out. I now have concrete. I want to lay hardwood down but keep hearing about 'leveling'. It is the old garage which has the traditional slope for run-off. The floor itself is level but it slopes from the back part of the room to the exterior wall by 3.5". I am prepared to lay down a sub-floor of 2x4 and plywood but need to know if I should 'level' the slope first. Thanks!

wouldn't be bad to use a 2x4 and screed it, take some material though. not sure what you would use i suppose a vinyl patch would work good as long as it was FULLY cured.

There was some posts on this last week. I believe they were saying the floor has to be flat, not mistaken for level. Most of the manufacturers call for thr floor to be FLAT with the maximum dips of 3/16" in 10'. I know Gary or Floorguy or Chuck will be here shortly to get what I missed.

Thanks cerscott1 and restowood. Good information. I'll wait to hear from Gary and Floorguy before I proceed. cerscott1 - I've heard this before as the misconception on the word flat vs. level gets pushed out of proportion. While the floor I have is flat, it is not level based on the slope.

Thanks!

As long as the substrate (subfloor) is FLAT, the flooring will perform properly. However, if you are willing to live on an unlevel surface, that is a personal preference. Personally, if you are going to the trouble to install screeds and a subfloor, it wouldn't take much effort to level it as well. IMO.

Ya, I agree with Gary.

One thing to consider is old garages, didn't have plastic under the concrete as a moisture barrier from the soil. TEST the concrete for moisture vapor emissions!!!!! Vapors are unseen., so "It looks dry to me" has cause many board feet of wood flooring, to become expensive firewood.

Floorguy, coul dthey lay a vapor barrier down on the concrete then fasten the 2 x 4s to the concrete? Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Ya, that's how some do it.
I like to get nasty with asphalt mastic and felt, with plastic.