I can easily understand how home owners can feel that something they saw on television looks simple enough to try at home. And without enough knowledge of house structure they can easily cause big problems.
Looking at my own kitchen floor - old and ugly - could surely use leveling and a new tile job - however, being a very old house, I realize that the back of my entire house is sinking from the foundation giving the kitchen a 2" slope. Leveling the kitchen floor and tiling it would only be a temporary cosmetic fix that would crack as the foundation continues to do what it is doing.
First priority ought to be hiring a professional to slowly raise the back end (from beneath) to where it is level.
THEN a new kitchen floor would be worth the investment.
I wonder if these "Trading Spaces" type television shows actually take structural issues into consideration before they work their "magic".
P.S. I'm not planning to raise the house until next year. So the ugly kitchen will have to make do!
