COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Floor Levelling & Wall Straightening Techniques in Tiling course. This program is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge required to prepare surfaces correctly for wall and floor tiling.
Surface preparation is one of the most critical steps in achieving high-quality, long-lasting tile installations. Uneven floors and misaligned walls can lead to lippage, poor adhesion, and aesthetic issues. This course begins by highlighting the importance of levelling and straightening, exploring common problems associated with poor preparation, and explaining the role that surface tolerance plays in industry compliance and quality outcomes.
Compliance with Australian Standards is fundamental. This section introduces the relevant standards, including AS 3958.1, and outlines the allowable tolerance limits for both residential and commercial tiling projects. Understanding these standards ensures that tilers can assess substrates accurately and deliver work that meets client and regulatory expectations.
Accurate measurement is essential for success. This section explores the various tools used to check levels and straightness, including spirit levels, laser levels, and string lines. It also discusses the importance of maintaining and calibrating these tools to ensure consistent, reliable results during surface preparation.
A thorough assessment of the floor’s condition must come first. This section focuses on identifying uneven areas, cracks, contamination, and moisture issues, while also evaluating whether the substrate is suitable for levelling compounds, adhesives, or screeds.
Walls require just as much attention. This section guides learners through inspecting wall surfaces for bowing, misalignment, or poor transitions, and outlines methods to verify vertical plumbness, squareness, and corner accuracy before tiling begins.
Preparation is key to bonding success. This section covers how to clean substrates properly, repair imperfections, and prime surfaces for improved adhesion and reduced absorbency—critical steps before applying any levelling or straightening products.
Self-levelling compounds are common in floor preparation. This section introduces the different types, their suitable applications, drying times, and important manufacturer limitations that tilers must understand before use.
Correct mixing and application affect the final result. This section focuses on proper water ratios, mixing consistency, and pouring techniques to achieve even coverage and eliminate air bubbles, all while maintaining a workable wet edge.
Screeding is a core skill for larger floor areas. This section explains how to set control points, use hand tools or screed bars effectively, and apply screeds with accuracy to achieve level surfaces over varying floor dimensions.
Drainage and slope must be addressed early. This section outlines how to build correct gradients in wet areas and balconies, using falls that direct water towards waste points, while complying with waterproofing and tiling standards.
Wall straightening often requires render or bedding correction. This section explores render application, the use of battens or screed guides, and curing time considerations to create a stable, plumb surface for tile installation.
Adhesives can correct small irregularities. This section explains techniques such as feathering, back-buttering, and spot levelling, while reinforcing the importance of not exceeding adhesive thickness limits outlined by manufacturers.
Underlayments are another method for floor correction. This section covers the use of fibre cement boards and tile underlay systems, installation methods, screw patterns, and priming procedures to ensure a stable base.
Transitions and joints require precise planning. This section addresses how to manage height differences between flooring materials, prepare for expansion joints, and scribe tiles to uneven or non-square wall junctions.
Lippage control is essential for tiled finishes. This section explores the use of levelling systems, tile spacers, and techniques for adjusting tiles during installation to maintain even surfaces and tight tolerances.
Timing matters for final readiness. This section covers drying and curing considerations influenced by site conditions, how to test surface moisture and set times, and when it’s appropriate to begin tiling after levelling or straightening work is complete.
Safe work practices must always be followed. This section addresses the correct use of PPE, ventilation when working with chemical products, and how to reduce manual handling risks during lifting, mixing, and application tasks.
Problems may still arise during preparation. This section provides strategies for identifying and resolving issues such as delamination, cracking, and poor bonding—ensuring that problems are fixed before tiling begins.
Verification ensures quality results. This final section guides learners through final flatness and straightness checks using lasers and straight edges, the importance of documentation, and how to complete supervisor sign-off and gain client approval.
By the end of this course, you will have developed the knowledge and practical insight to assess, correct, and prepare floor and wall surfaces to meet professional tiling standards, ensuring a solid foundation for high-quality tile installations.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Levelling and Straightening in Tiling
- Importance of surface preparation for quality tiling
- Common problems caused by uneven floors and walls
- Industry standards for flatness and plumbness
2. Australian Standards and Tolerance Guidelines
- AS 3958.1 requirements for surface tolerances
- Understanding allowable deviation limits
- Compliance expectations on residential and commercial sites
3. Tools for Checking Level and Straightness
- Spirit levels, laser levels, and straight edges
- Using string lines and chalk lines effectively
- Calibrating and maintaining levelling equipment
4. Assessing Existing Floor Conditions
- Identifying dips, humps, and uneven patches
- Checking for cracks, moisture, and contamination
- Evaluating substrate strength and bond potential
5. Assessing Wall Flatness and Alignment
- Identifying bowing, twisting, or bulging
- Checking corner angles and verticality
- Inspecting junctions and surface transitions
6. Preparing the Surface Before Levelling
- Cleaning loose material, dust, and contaminants
- Repairing cracks and filling holes
- Priming to improve bonding and reduce absorption
7. Understanding Self-Levelling Compounds
- Types of levelling compounds for different substrates
- Application thickness and drying times
- Manufacturer instructions and limitations
8. Mixing and Applying Levelling Products
- Correct water ratios and mixing procedures
- Pouring, spreading, and removing air bubbles
- Maintaining a continuous wet edge during application
9. Screeding Techniques for Floor Levelling
- Setting screed rails and control points
- Hand screeding with straight edges or trowels
- Power screeding for large floor areas
10. Slope Correction and Drainage Preparation
- Creating falls towards floor waste points
- Measuring and verifying gradient angles
- Ensuring compliance with wet area standards
11. Wall Straightening Using Renders and Bedding
- Applying wall render for surface correction
- Fixing battens or guides to maintain straightness
- Allowing adequate curing before tiling
12. Using Tile Adhesive for Minor Corrections
- Feathering small uneven areas
- Back-buttering and spot levelling
- Limitations of adhesive depth and spread
13. Installing Underlayments for Floor Correction
- Fibre cement sheeting and tile underlay boards
- Fixing methods and screw patterns
- Sealing joints and priming the surface
14. Joint and Transition Management
- Matching levels between different flooring materials
- Preparing for expansion and movement joints
- Scribing tiles to fit uneven wall or floor transitions
15. Controlling Lippage and Uneven Tile Edges
- Tile levelling systems and spacers
- Adjusting tile placement during setting
- Monitoring for height differences between tiles
16. Drying, Curing and Readiness for Tiling
- Factors influencing drying time
- Testing for set and moisture content
- Timing tile installation after levelling and straightening
17. Safety Considerations When Levelling Floors
- PPE and handling of caustic or dusty materials
- Ventilation requirements in enclosed spaces
- Manual handling and ergonomic safety
18. Troubleshooting Levelling and Straightening Issues
- Addressing cracking or delamination
- Identifying bond failure causes
- Reworking defective levelling jobs
19. Quality Control and Surface Verification
- Final checks using laser and straight edges
- Documenting compliance with tolerances
- Supervisor sign-off and client approval
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.