The first step is fixing up the floor—that raw concrete slab, those panels of bare plywood, or the ratty wood speckled with glue from old carpet.

Concrete is poured back in the trench to level the slab, and the new floor is covered with ceramic tile. Another option is to install a Saniflo plumbing system above the existing concrete slab.

Ceramic tile used to be on top of this ugly concrete mortar. After applying self-leveling floor compound, the homeowner can successfully install laminate floor on top of it.