Self Leveling Floor Tips for Beginners
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2024
- See self leveling floor tips, specifically how to self level bathroom floors. If you're doing a bathroom remodel and need help, join our Platinum Membership and make your project easier at www.homerepairtutor.com/ 👍🏼
#selfleveling #bathroomfloor #homerepairtutor
0:00 Self leveling floor tips
0:20 How to use an angle grinder to remove thin-set mortar
1:23 How to use Ardex Feather Finish over wood subfloor
2:23 How to use Great Stuff expanding foam to seal bathroom floors
2:54 How to apply Ardex P51 primer to the wood subfloor
3:28 How to use silicone caulk to seal wood subfloor
4:23 How to mix self leveling underlayment
5:16 How to pour self leveler
These supplies were used in our video:
Fein WSG7-115 Angle Grinder
Ridgid Double Row Diamond Cup Wheel
Ironclad Gloves
Silica Dust Respirator
Fein Dust Shroud
Ironclad Gloves
Ardex Feather Finish
Drill
Small Mixing Paddle
Ardex P51 Primer
Great Stuff Expanding Foam
Silicone
Newborn GTD-930 Caulking Gun
Sill Seal
Stapler
Ardex K22F Self-Leveler
X01 Mixer (Collomix)
Dust Ex (Collowmix)
AQIX Water Dosing Device
Spiked Roller
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I watched a lot of videos but when I saw the screws you drilled for height then it all made sense. No one else did that. Thanks.
Thank you 🙏🏼
Same here. Good thinking there.
@@HomeRepairTutor question about this. You covered all the joints and screws so that the self leveler is contained to the bathroom, but then drilled through it to mark the height needed. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of sealing the screws?
@@robertgonzalez7745 great question, I’d only use screws that don’t penetrate the subfloor but even if that happened wouldn’t be concerned as the screw is filling the hole. You could also use spacers and hot glue then to the floor 👍🏼
No one except Sal
th-cam.com/video/K47Dv8c0cA0/w-d-xo.html
Hey mate I’ve been self levelling for years I wouldn’t say I’m a pro at it because it’s kind of the last resort to flood for the customer because it’s so expensive ($30m2) but I have done thousands of square metres of the stuff and I reckon your video is the best out there mate. Well done 👍🏼
Question. If adding screws to level, do the screws just stay in after it dries because the screws get covered by it? Have you ever used screws?
I’ve never used screws personally but I assume if they’re not completely covered you should screw them out
@@jkocaja1 Yes, if you're using screws to establish your plane you'd leave them in place.
@@shahnjordan7890 No, you wouldn't want to remove those screws -- that could fracture the SLU around them. We just leave them in place.
Alternatively, pros often use tripods and of course you lift those away when you're done.
Oh yeah, that helped. When we did our first floor, thankfully only a fireplace hearth, ours was WAAAAY to thick. Explains a lot. Thank you for helping out.
Awesome video. For future vids I'd recommend using the blue can spray foam designed for doors and windows, it has a lot less expansion than the regular foam. Newbies watching this could easily over apply the regular foam and have much more cleanup
This is a great video. Aside from the straight forward, to the point explanation, one of the things I like the most...no background music!!!
🙏🙏🙏
@HomeRepairTutor u saved my butt man! I really needed to see this video. Thank u
This video was great and to the point and definitely helped with my current job attempt. I purchased about $5k worth of epoxy flooring for my home from a company called Leggari and an ground area that used to be outside and now has a custom stone fireplace had a pitch to it for rain/runoff that needed to be leveled. This video helped a ton since this was the first time i've ventured this, so thank you. If I had to give any advice, take as much time as you need to prep and seal up all the perimeter with great stuff and/or caulk or whatever so as mentioned in this video, no self leveling mix will penetrate. Once the prep is sound, don't be afraid to make the mix wet and runny. If its not runny or thin enough it wont roll out as easy. Once your pour it, there's no doctoring it. Runny and thin will allow it to lay out in every crack and low spot. It may take longer to set but will be less work on the back end as far as feathering or grinding, etc.
Excellent video and tips! Be careful not to add extra water as it will weaken the self-leveller which can cause cracking. Like you say floor-levellers that are on the runny side are easier to level and smooth out.
This was the most helpful instructional videos, in regards to self-leveling, I’ve yet to see. Thank you!
Agreed. Watched about 10 so far and this one is so much better than any of those by far! 👍🏼 👍🏼
I've been doing this kind of work for years and I want to thank you for this video as I learned a thing or two. Great job.
thank you, that means a lot to me 🙏🏼🔥🔥
@@HomeRepairTutor i
Perfection! Thank for all of the detail. It will be my first time applying self leveler and had no idea about all these steps. And I'm totally one of those ppl that thought self leveler 'levels itslelf.' 😅
Love the suggestion for using screws as a guide for pouring the right amount of leveler.
Great video, Jeff. Love the off-label sill-seal trick. Thanks.
thanks buddy 👍🏼
Wow, this was thorough! There were tips in here, well...perhaps I should say 'proper procedures', that weren't mentioned in other vids. THANK YOU!
Thank you 🙏 I enjoy the details. Glad you got some additional tips
Awesome tutorial. One thing, the spiked roller throws the leveling compound in the air, I noticed when it speckled my newly painted wall!
Great video. Well explained. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the reminder on adding screws at different heights in order to double-check
One the best videos I've see on TH-cam on self level. 👌 great job on explaining everything especially PRIMER must be used on any type of floor for a proper bond.
thank you 🙏🏼
Loved the video! Thank you! Question … if after the first application of leveling compound has dried and there are still some low areas, is it ok to do a second application of leveler on top of the first? If so, would a different bonding agent be used (different than the original for plywood in my case?
I needed this, Thank you!!
Did not know self leveler needed an expansion joint. Excellent video!
I like that spiked roller. Great tips, Thanks! :)
Great video, I've had great luck hooking up a dust deputy cyclone to my vacuum while grinding concrete. Keeps my hepa filter much cleaner.
Awesome tip, is that the specific name of that product? Might have to get one 🙌🏼
@@HomeRepairTutor yep, dust deputy cyclone. Also works great sanding drywall.
Have no plans whatever to do this, but it still looked great watching the transformation.
This is so great and so detailed! I hope I can manage it myself 😂
Wow,. incredibly professional job. Well done 👍👍👍
Right to the point, thanks! Any thoughts on how the K 22 F product compares to Ardex Liquid Backerboard and when would you choose one over the other?
Video answered all my stupid questions. Bookmarked this video for future reference.
👍
Thanks mate, get good tip btw about dust extractor while mixing self-leveller. I couldn't find it in hw store, but printed some crude but functional substitute on my 3d printer.
I also just cut an edge of the bucket lid off, drill a hole to fit the shop vac hose and it does a decent job as well
The porcupine roller is a must tool for this. Worth the investment
Very helpful. Thanks !
Love the screw trick
Thanks boss man! Great tips clearly laid out. Here I go!
Thank-you. Did the job and it turned out beautiful! 60sqft +/- 1/16" from my set point. Only thing I added was I had 3 people with me mixing & carrying buckets. Done in half an hour. Again great tips!
Great video! Thanks!
It would be also nice to cover of what can go wrong. As a first timer, I had one corner too high and some unevenness in spots, so I removed extra concrete at the corner and poured the second layer to even everything out.
Good point! In my case, it was way too hot to do the job and the self leveler cured at lightning speed... creating a ton of work for me (I had to grind it all down, as it had formed little mountains all over)
You do really clean and solid work thanks for the tutorial feeling more confident i can do this myself !!
Thank you 🙏🏼
Hi there, super informative. thanks a million.
Thank you so much!!
Well done! thanks for the helpful video. I am using this product to level the bottom of a pit in our floor to recess our pet scales!
Awesome helpful video for diyers. Would you need to self level entire 2nd floor? If I am installing new LVL Lux Vinyl Lamanent flooring over the entire 2nd floor, would i need to self leveler over the entire floor using this method? If so then would this not be too heavy weight structurally speaking? Also will this Crack in the future?
Wow! A lot of work, but seeing many self-leveling project fails, this is by far tops in reassurance of work done right 💪. Would recommend a vacuum wide blade attachment made for wet floor, has thin rubber blade for better water collection, but I use for both that though very effective for removal of finer dust particles as demonstrated in this video..
Love your videos and all the help you've provided, it's helped me a ton. How do you install the toilet flange now that the subfloor is wider than the flange (when the foam is removed). Thanks!
You can put the flange down to the original floor depth, then use a jumbo, or two wax rings when you install the toilet if a regular wax ring isn’t thick enough. I think they make longer bolts too for securing the toilet.
Hope that answers your question.
So helpful! I have a very large room with lots of seams in the subfloor and slight dips and bumps throughout. How should I decide if I need to use self leveler over the whole room or use floor patch in different areas?
Level the room if you want it flat. Patching will require more work/material/skill to create a flat surface.
This is video is SO helpful. What should be done in the doorway into the bathroom? How do I prep that section to prevent the self leveler from flowing out of the doorway?
You can add a 2x4 in the doorway and use the same methods that I used against the wall
thanks for sharing this.
Question: is there a reason why you did not attach the Sill Seal when you placed the Great Stuff?
Thank you
wow, you know your shit. I was going to just dump it on but now see there is much more involved.
Your a Good Tradesman Mate !
Wow guys, great video! Excellent education and information as always. Love what you said about a dedicated mixing paddle for the job. Thanks for using our products and showing them to the world. Best and KEEP MIXING!
thank you, both the Dust EX and AQIX are awesome tools, having a good mixer makes a huge difference with mortars and leveler 👍🏼🔥
Great video thanks
If installing under floor heating mats, would you pour the self levelling compound onto the mat, or let it dry first and set the mat in tile adhesive?
Great video, thanks for showing the full process. Only thing I would recommend is that you don’t need the great stuff AND the silicon around the base of the wall, the silicon alone is adequate. And in order to save on materials if you have the time, e.g. on a large floor area where you have 24 hours between floor prep and putting the leveler down, you can use an latex caulking with silicon in it. It takes longer to dry and seal, but is far cheaper and gets you the same result. If you don’t have the time, use a fast drying caulking with silicon (
Lots of fancy gizmos in this video. All of my dust problems solved with a 10 dollar box fan in the window or with a 20x20 filter taped to it lol! I think he's sponsored by the brands he keeps name dropping even down to the caulk gun haha
Repent to Jesus Christ
“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
1 Peter 4:16 NIV
J
@@seekhimwithallyourheartand3358 This is irrelevant. Take that crap somewhere else.
You're right -- Alex Plus or whatever's cheapest is good enough for the temporary job of holding the SLU back while it cures.
@@themonkeydrunken Just keep reporting them to YT. They'll at least have to create new profiles.
Thank you!
This is awesome - thanks! One quick question: I have a control cut running diagonally through the basement bathroom I'm working on and am nearly ready to put down self-leveler. What do I need to do to prep the control cut? I'm planning to mark the two walls where the cut runs and run my tile at that angle and will be putting down a HeatMatrix underlayment down (originally was going to do in-floor heating, but decided not to).
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Hey Gary, that’s a unique situation and I’m not familiar with HeatMatrix. So I recommend calling Ardex technical support to clarify your questions. They’re awesome and will do their best to help out
Repent to Jesus Christ
“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
1 Peter 4:16 NIV
@@seekhimwithallyourheartand3358 Dude this isn't the place for this crap.
@themonkeydrunken it's not crap it's the truth
i really appreciate this very helpful video! I'm only grumbling from the fact that i may have to buy/rent tools that i'll seldomly use just for this project lol (like the squeegee & spiked roller). But that's the reality of DIY.
After the job, sell them in Craig’s or similar.
Great video and info but please I have a question I am removing my tub and walls and I want to install walk in shower base and new walls made by flexstone and they recommended to glue the base on wood subfloor and walls but they not recommended using shims for leveling the subfloor and if subfloor is not level do I need to use self leveling or any other way ? or Mortar ? and do I need to add wire mesh if I am using self leveling? please advice
Very handy thanks
enjoyed the vid. very detailed.
ignore the haters 👍🏼
Very good job .and how long I need to wait to set up my ceramic on that level on floor?
Product maximalism to be sure
BIG THX!!!
Looks nice and smooth could someone use it as it? Or you have to put above extra tiles or wood?
Excellent video.
Great job wish my guys were this thorough on jobs lol.
thank you 🙏🏼
This is the first time seeing the screw trick do you leave the screws in or do you have to remove them before installing the flooring
You have some really cool tool setups
Great tutorial, thanks man!
🙏🏼🙏🏼
Really well done!
Thank you buddy
"They just think that self-leveler is going to level itself."
This is why reading the manual/directions/instructions is always important. You really can't ever assume anything or you're going to have a bad time.
Always read the directions or call the company that makes the leveler to clarify questions. Ardex has one of the best technical support staff for products, I highly recommend using their products because of the support and outstanding product quality
Yep. Doesn't matter if youve used a product 100x. It only takes one change to the directions to screw up a job. Always.read.directions.
very good video thanks
Would you use feather finish in a cracked concrete bathroom floor on a lower level? Or would an epoxy or another process be better?
I have just nick named you Cap'n Badass. Outstanding end product!
Anyone have any insights on how the prep changes if you have a concrete subfloor? I live in a high rise condo and am thinking of installing concrete floor (as opposed to laying new tile).
If you’re applying LVP over the top of this, do you need an expansion joint in addition to the one made for the self leveler?
I’ve got a basement I’m trying to put LVP down on. Unfortunately, about 30 square feet of it is covered with cement/glue type substance that was used for the old tiles. It is so hard that it broke a grinding tool I rented. Since I can’t remove it, hopefully this will work. Thanks.
Hello - thank you so much for this video! I wonder if you can help with a sort-of-related question. I'd like to use self-leveling screed to create a base for a metal bike shed, on top of existing concrete slabs, which are sloping. What would you recommend I use as a barrier so the mixture only stays in its designated area? Thank you so much in advance!
I'm not OP, but could you use 2x4s to create a form on top like you would for a concrete pour, then use his method in this video of expanding foam/silicone/foam roll to prevent it from leaking under the form?
If you want the top of the leveller to also slope, then leveller is not the product for the job. If done a job similar to what you describe using polymer modified render.
Great video my friend and thank you
Thank you 🙏🏼
Amazing!!
Fabulous!
Excellent
Do you have any recommendations for doing this over heater wires, on plywood? I’m thinking the liquid BackerBoard which does not require lath is a good idea, but I’ve heard it is thick and doesn’t flow well.
After you use a self leveler on a plywood sub floor do you have to add a polymer to the mortar still?
Hi, I enjoyed the video. I've seen lots of other videos where they were not able to get a level floor. Is the spiked roller and squeegee enough to get it moving to where you want? Would you recommend that over a screed?
using a squeegee helps a lot and is in many ways better than the spiked roller. But always buy more leveler than you think you’ll need
After learning the hard way, I will now never do a job without my spiked roller. Squeegee to approximate, then spiked roller.
Great video, but why didn't you staple lath to the subfloor before pouring the levelling compound? Thanks.
you guys are the best
thank you 🙏🏼
Wow what a great video
Do you pull the sill seal along the bottom out before tiling?
Great Video!!! Just one question out of genuine curiosity… why did you grind off the tile grout instead of cutting out the underlayment and replacing it? Just seems like so much more work to achieve the same goal. Thank you in advance.
That's what I ended up doing in my bathroom! Instead of having to remove 20+ year old vinyl adhesive, I just removed the plywood underlayment in a few pieces, and made up the height in more self-leveling 😊 My bathroom was SO uneven for the tiny space, and it was higher than the carpet in the hall, so ripping out the 1/2 inch plywood and leveling to the desired depth was actually the right choice for me!
Hi, i am trying to level my bathroom floor also, but I would like to know, i need to add a sheet of plywood to increase the thickness of my subfloor. Should I level the floor with floor leveler first then add the sheet or should I add the sheet then level if needed? I would think that the leveler will crack if you screw on the plywood over it. What do you think? Thank you
I enjoyed your video and I have a question. I'm leveling a large room (kitchen). Do I want to caulk around the perimeter and use the pink stuff too? Or, is that just for a bathroom?
The pink stuff is to give everything a smidgen of room to expand and settle, so I'd say you'd still want to use it wherever you're doing a project like this.
What if you have 2 rooms that were combined into one, and one of concrete slabs is tad bit higher than the other one? There is a crack where the two slabs meet. Can you put a screw in the crack to make sure both slabs are the same height, and enough to fill in the crack?
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Nice! I'm currently preparing my bathroom floors for the self leveling system... Questions: should I pour self leveling there or leave it alone
I don’t understand your question. Is the floor ok, or does it need levelling?
That was a great and very detailed video I probably would have cut a few steps but everything you listed was helpful.
Hello, Great tutorial! I did this in my bathroom and it looked so nice that I kept it that way (without adding anything else on top). But 2 months later I started to see little cracks...What do you recommend if I want to keep this cement look? Should I add another layer (I put 2 already)? Or should I add something else? Thank you in advance!
Self-leveling compound is really not made to be uncovered for long periods of time. If left uncovered, it will overdry and crack.
@@thedukeofno Thank you. But then, what can I add on top to give the same type of look?
@@enjoythesilence303 typically flooring needs to go over self leveling like tile or laminate. If you want just a grey finish you can remove to concrete and coat it with an epoxy? Concrete staining seems like it's gaining traction.
What I learned from this video is that I'm pulling up the old plywood and installing Hardyboard.
Great video. Question: Why would the compound go into adjacent rooms? Do you mean that the compound would go through the cracks in the joints of the subfloor and seep into rooms below? Thanks
Yes, it’s almost as thin as water and will flow easily through any cracks
Great video
Thank you 🙏🏼
So.... Every step is super important? Got it 👍
This is an awesome video
I like the gray colour.
It looked pretty level already
So I have a few questions if it not a bother. For my toilet flange, it sit about 1/4 up, and I have to add that much. Is it okay if the toilet flange is flush with the ground? 2nd, the pink foam role for expansion, how did you finish that part. Did you cut it flush with the ground after everything cured?