QA

How To Apply Self Leveling Underlayment

Can I use self-leveling underlayment on plywood?

If you’ve got a plywood subfloor, like many buildings do, you can leave it in place and apply self-leveling concrete directly on top of it. You can also use self-leveling concrete on plywood as an underlayment for other types of floor coverings, such as carpet or tile.

How do I stop self-leveling compound from running?

Build a barrier in Doorways: Create a barrier in a doorway with strips of wood. Make sure you seal the wood to the floor with silicone as well as the area where the wood strip meets the expansion foam. This stops the flow of the liquid leveling compound from one room to another.

Do I need primer for self-leveling compound?

Self-leveling underlayments require the use of a primer prior to installation (like the TEC Multipurpose Primer). Failure to use product recommended primer may result in installation failure. Primer retains the moisture within the self-leveling underlayment to allow proper curing.

Can you nail hardwood through self-leveling compound?

Some self-levellers can be nailed through, others you can’t. So if you’re installing hardwood flooring over top, you will need a self-levelling cement that you can nail through. Different self-levelling products must be mixed to different (and very specific) consistencies.

Do I need to prime floor before self-levelling?

Wood floors need to be primed before covering them with self leveler. The floor will be covered with water-saturated leveler, which will cause the wood to swell. It will shrink back down when it dries, which could cause cracks in the underlayment and tiles above. The primer prevents the wood from absorbing water.

Do you need to seal concrete before using floor Levelling compound?

It is recommended that the concrete surface is primed with a primer before applying the leveling compound. This is meant not only to improve adhesion with the leveling compound but also to serve to seal the concrete slab beneath.

What happens if you add too much water to self-leveling concrete?

When excess water is used in cement-based mortars, grouts, levelers or patches, it increases spacing between the molecules of the mixture and stops the fingers from interlocking tightly, weakening the cement. This can lead to shrinkage cracks, along with decreased flexural and tensile strengths.

Can you pour self-leveling concrete over self-leveling concrete?

Can I pour multiple layers of self-leveling concrete? Once the first layer is dry, you can pour a second layer. You will need a primer laid down first, and it is possible to need a moisture barrier.

How long does self-leveling take to dry?

For normal-drying self-levelling compounds, a general rule for estimating the drying time is one day per mm of thickness.

Do you PVA before self-levelling?

No to the PVA, but wet the floor first before using the self leveling compound, be warned it’s not self leveling you have to trowel it level.

How thick can self-leveling concrete be?

QUIKRETE® Fast-Setting Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer (No. 1249-51) can be installed from 1-1/2 inch (38 mm) thick to a feather edge, although a ¼ inch (6.3 mm) minimum thickness is required for heavy traffic areas.

Can you walk on self-leveling compound?

Let the Concrete Leveller Dry Most concrete floor levelling compounds dry quickly, so they can be walked on after just 4 hours, drying fully after 24 hours. You can then install other types of flooring on top of concrete flooring after this stage.

Can you put screws through self-leveling compound?

Look at it this way if your floor starts shifting or moves every time you walk on it your leveler will flex and start to crack and break. If you are putting backerboard over the leveler then that is an easy answer: all the screws will just bust the leveler and will not work!Jun 10, 2012.

Can you use self-leveling concrete as a finished floor?

It can also be used to smooth uneven or flat spots on concrete surfaces that aren’t severe enough to warrant mudjacking or total concrete replacement. At the same time, self-leveling concrete can be used as a standalone, finished flooring material. It’s durable enough to hold up to everyday wear and tear.

Can I use PVA as a primer before self Levelling compound?

Make sure you use a proper tiling primer PVA isn’t to be used as a primer. Get an acrylic based primer. Defending how high you need to go I either cut a length of timber and wedge it in the doorframe to stop the compound leaking.

What is self-leveling primer?

DESCRIPTION. NA 310 Self-Leveler Primer is a low-VOC, water-based acrylic primer that enhances the performance and adhesion of self-leveling underlayments on nonabsorbent surfaces such as ceramic tile, vinyl composition tile (VCT), epoxy moisture barriers and adhesive residue, as well as on profiled, absorbent surfaces.

What is the cheapest way to level a concrete floor?

There are self-leveling coatings designed to fill gaps and cracks. You could also try using vinyl floor tiles to make the transition more gradual. Probably the easiest (and cheapest) thing to do would be to get a big diamond grinding wheel and bevel down the lip.

How long before you can walk on self leveling cement?

Do not walk on the resurfaced floor until it has fully gained sufficient strength. This is approximately 1 to 2 days for the Normal Set product or 2 to 4 hours for the Fast Set product, depending on surrounding conditions. No special curing steps are required.