How To Pour Self Leveler Over Concrete | Columbia MO
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- Опубликовано: 3 фев 2023
- How to pour self leveler, complete tutorial
Tools needed
Measuring bucket
Egg beater style mixing paddle
High speed drill or mixer
Caulking
Sill sealer
Primer
Leveling shims in varying thicknesses (flat horseshoe spacers work great)
Self leveling material (always buy an extra bag or two)
Enough buckets to pre-measure all the water before the job begins
Spiked shoes to walk in the leveler
Spiked roller
If you need to level a floor to match an elevation or to fill low spots this is the video for you.
The first step in installing self leveler over concrete is to remodel any bond breakers from the concrete. Bond breakers will prevent the primer from sticking to the substrate and cause a potential failure. Bond breakers include paint, joint compound, dust/debri and cure and seal (often used when the slab was placed). We use a floor grinder to remove all bond breakers. Using a grinder also removes the high polish off the slab. The high polish can also prevent proper adhesion to the substrate.
Once the slab is prepared the next step is to find and set the grade. In this video we wanted to match up with the existing floor outside the bathroom so we used that for grade. We simply used a laser to mark the floor elevation then deducted the thickness of our tile floor, including the uncoupling underlayment. Our thickness is 5/8” typically. From there we will set our grade markers every three feet or so to our elevation.
Prior to priming the floor we need to seal the area off to prevent any leveler from escaping. The consistency of the leveler is very thin and it will run out of the area if you’re aren’t careful. We like to use caulking to seal up the area. Don’t forget to block air vents if they are in the floor. Floor drains are also something to pay close attention to.
The next step is to use a sill sealer (or equivalent) around the perimeter of the room to pour against. The sill sealer allows the leveler to expand and contract without causing any buckling.
Once the room is totally prepped it’s time to prime the floor. We use a brush or roller to apply it. Follow the directions on your primer, some primers must be diluted with water. Exact measurements are key, a measuring bucket will be a great tool for this project.
While the primer is drying it’s time to setup for the mixing. We use a large bucket to mix two bags of leveler at a time. We will pre-measure all the water that is required before we start mixing. Follow the manufacturer directions on water content. Self leveling is not a guessing game, the water must be exactly the correct amount.
Using an egg beater style mixing paddle with a high speed mixer is the way to mix leveler. Mix for the time required on the bags, typically two minutes. Pour immediately after mixing, do not slake the leveler. Start at the far corner of the job, furthest away from the door. Leveler won’t seek out a truly level area on its own, you will have to help it. Pour up to the top of your grade markers and go slowly. Don’t knock your markers loose and don’t overfill them.
As you mix bags of leveler continue to work from the last pour, don’t skip around. You need to keep the pour going to maintain the flow ability of the product. You have about 10 minutes of work time per batch. That is plenty of time if everything is staged ahead of time. Using the spiked shoes to walk into the leveler use the spike roller to break the surface tension and allow the leveler to do its thing. Just use long strokes with the roller going in both directions to break the tension.
That’s it, that is what it takes to properly install self leveling concrete.
www.ejflooring.com
/ ejflooring
/ ejflooring
(573) 289-1045
Certified Tile Installer #1329 
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If you need to level a floor, this is the video for you. We do a complete step by step guide to mixing and placing the leveler.
If you have any comments or questions, be sure to comment below.
Thank you very much for the video, I see that you are very professional, you know you are doing it, Thank you for your time and show us your technique, we all learn more, Every day thank you, I am already registered
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Nothin better than setting tile on a nice flat leveled floor. It really makes the difference between a blow and go job and a professional grade, proper install. Nice job, men. Hope you all are well.
What a great compliment, thank you. Hopefully you’re planning on attending Coverings in Orlando? If not it will be in Atlanta next year, no excuses then.
I printed a sheet of address labels out with a small ruler on them and +1/8 and -1/8 increments on them.
Just set up my laser, peel of a sticker and align the zero mark on the label with the laser line on my stick.
Makes it a lot easier to instantly read off dips and high spots, and prevents me from constantly forgetting that the upper marks are dips and the lower marks are humps.
👍👍
Great video. Very helpful. I'm a subscriber now
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Drill a hole down toward the bottom of that barrel on the side and install a PVC shut on and off valve and put some casters on thE barbell or get one of those Brute Garbage cans and install the valve and buy the roller caster that goes with it. It will help with your pour and not break your back.
That’s a good idea, thank you for sharing it with me.
What do you use for a sill sealer?
Thank you! Very educational.
I just use whatever I find at the box store, I don’t look for any particular brand.
@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy Hi, did you use the sill sealer in the video, I see it in the description but didn't notice it in the video. Is it necessary?
What are those leveling shims? Can you find them at a big box store?
We buy them online at builtwithfoam.com.
Would you recommend someone to do this by themselves?
How big of an area are you trying to cover? That would determine if one person could handle it.
@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy Lets just say an area similar to what you did in the video
@@CoolHand24 if you stage the area out like we did one person can likely handle it. It would be easier with two people. The mixing is easy enough but spreading by yourself can be a challenge. Depending on what you’re leveling you may need additional tools than we used. If the entire area is going to be raised it can be done with what you see in the video. Once I posted the video I did see an error in my project. If the whole floor is to be raised you need to use a sill sealer or other compressible material at the perimeter. This provides an expansion joint for the leveler. The sill sealer should be left in place until the tile is installed, then cut flush to the top of the tile. It’s only 1/4” thick so your baseboard will cover the edge nicely.