How to Level a Floor Using Self Levelling Compound - The Complete DIY Guide!

[@StuckInTheM1ddle]

Did my first self-levelling recently. A key bit missing from this video that I learned the hard way after my first attempt was how important having a system to get your heights correct is key. I’ve seen a tripod system that looks good that I’ll use the next time. Unfortunately just pouring, moving it around and eyeballing the height is not enough from my recent experience.

[@paulfribbens6594]

I use a laser level to work out the low points and high points. Using spiked bases on boots I start in the deepest part and allow it to rise up and over the higher spots. It great fun working with the stuff and a difference of just 1 or 2 mm across a room is possible if you prep properly first

[@clivewilliams3661]

An experienced eye is sufficient. Most of the time all you are looking for is a smooth flat finish, it doesn't have to be level. You have to put a finish on top of the latex and the only one that will be of concern will be sheet vinyl that may be shiny at times that will show any variation.

[@paulfribbens6594]

@clivewilliams3661 if your tiling however...... The flatter you can get the sub surface the easier the tiling becomes

[@clivewilliams3661]

@@paulfribbens6594 For tiling you only need the floor to be +/-3mm over 3m to give the best surface, as the bedding compound will easily accommodate that tolerance. Also, it needs to be flat not necessarily level. If you can get away without using latex the better because I have seen several floors where the latex levelling compound has broken up meaning the floor finish has debonded from the substrate. On one job where the contractor had used copious amounts of latex under vinyl and carpet floor finishes to rectify his poor screed laying, you could hear and feel the latex crunching with every footstep. Latex self-levelling compound is nowhere near as strong as the floor it is laid on so should never be used where that strength is required.

[@adamperkins3125]

Yes did my first try recently as well and I came to the same conclusion as you. If you just pour it and let it self level itself it doesn't really self level all that much

[@AC-gm6bq]

Many channels like yours about but i rate yours very highly my friend. Really good clear advice. Keep up the good work..👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad to help, and thank you 👍

[@robertrushbrooke1028]

I did the ground floor of my renovation . I think I spent about 2 days planning it and marking out the areas for pours, having bags pre opened and lots of water pre measured in buckets. Best advice I had was make sure you always had a wet edge of compound to work to. I had a pair of spiked shoes which were great. Really satisfying job and what a different it made to laying LVT and tiles.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Sounds like you did a great job of it 👍

[@robertrushbrooke1028]

@ Never watched so many videos or sweated as much😅

[@matthewdobson100]

did this job today on a 20m2 kitchen, levelling up to the hallway and dining room with a varying 3-25mm fill in one pour using screws to mark out the heights around the room. not ideal, would have liked to do it in a couple of layers but only had help for a day. I found it more difficult to achieve a nice finish on the deeper areas. used a different product to the one in this video, and ended up increasing the water content on the mix to help workability, maybe not advisable but did it anyway and was noticiablly easeier to work than the first couple of mixes. biggest thing I took away is on a big room not to go back and re-work an area once it's gone off, it will leave roller/trowel marks and not flow out properly. I know this is pretty obvious to keep a wet edge, and I knew I shouldn't be doing it but it's really hard when a single mix doesn't cover your whole wet edge (again especially with a thicker pour that's not covering as big an area each time) and so by the time you get back to the oldest edge it can sometimes have gone off too much already. was pretty happy with the end result, not perfect by any means but has done the job. might still go back and do a 2mm pour to remove any little ridges and marks left over. but it's getting covered anyway so propbably not.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Cheers for sharing your experiences 👍

[@liftfan2]

Top tips: prime. Prime again, if not sure prime again. Any porosity in the floor and you’ll get bubbles. If unsure of levels, eg big dips, screw some screws into the floor such that the head is the finished floor level. Screws into plastic plugs in concrete will work.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

👍👍

[@edwinmcc]

I love the content by this guy .. I find this is very useful..

[@amazing451]

Nice looking job Cameron, when priming the floor would you recommend something like SBR ?

[@smurfsmurf2295]

Cracking job mate

[@TheDIYGuy1]

👌

[@nosycatUK]

Thank you, master 🙏

[@TheDIYGuy1]

You are very welcome

[@geltonbeltonwelton]

Great video as always boss!!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Appreciate it!

[@gainmaster1]

Nice job, If you around going deeper and over a big area, good to use foam border tape for expansion. Esp with UFH

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Great point! 👍

[@drcl7429]

Might actually do this myself now. If for whatever reason you needed to raise the height further, I assume you can just add another layer? Also, would primer be used or not or maybe a different type of primer?

[@bramcoteelectrical1088]

Great tips 👌 i am an electrician, so wish me luck😂😂. Got the kitchen floor to do, and if I get this wrong 😂 dinner, be in the 🐕 dog😂

[@TheDIYGuy1]

You got this! 😃

[@bramcoteelectrical1088]

@TheDIYGuy1 😃😃😃 thankyou your clear video helping me alot much 👏 appreciated

[@MrSmid888]

Thoughts on weyroc boarding with gaps sealed? Swear I’m missing a dwarf wall, I’ve put a tape under and it’s about 3.6m from outer wall to dwarf. I looked this up and max for my timber is 2.8M anyway a golf ball will roll on the floor. Bowed and settled. I don’t think they’ll move anymore concrete slab is bone dry and level.

[@david-un3om]

Could on use a compound straight on top of polished floor tiles with the primer please?

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Technically it’s possible. But I would lift the tiles. You’d need to know the tiles have a good adhesion and unless they are really bad from the previous install I’m not sure there is a benefit to using SLC over tile

[@skumpuntele8941]

How many bags did you use for this area?

[@antonyporter5045]

cracking video cheers

[@101projects2]

Purchased tickets from your UTC website, appreciate the discount code but didn't use it, You're just getting started with the new venture so it didn't seem right, maybe in the future once you're up and running I'll take advantage of deals or promotions 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks a lot for the support and consideration 👍

[@stevehughes4734]

Been levelling floors for years, that bitumen adhesive residue, there’s only one compound that works on that substrate, Ardex Arditex NA, process still the same. Good luck with it not peeling.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Me too, the Larsen works fine 👍

[@garnhamr]

really though? i used grit primer and renovation over that thin bitumen plenty of times. only be a problem if the bitumen is a bit thicker i reckon.

[@dasgill4761]

A few tips from experience. Make sure your water is accurate! Some SLCs are very sensitive to water content. Too much and it will crack, too little it won’t flow. For more accuracy you should weigh your water. Also you should install a foam barrier that acts as an expansion gap at all sides. This can then be cut back after it goes hard.

[@Trebornudd69]

The guy makes it look so easy but doubt I could get a level finish like that.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Give it a go on a small square room first and have someone mix for you to give you more time on the trowel and I bet you will get a good finish

[@jablot5054]

It is easy, just prep properly and be organised.

[@cedarstuff]

Are you using any height guides as you are pouring?

[@Ravenlife2025]

Bang on! I have a 2 tier problem. Level the whole house or rip the kitchen floor up. If your interested msg me.

[@doug4540]

How do you know the height of the amount where you started the pour given it was nowhere near the spot where the actual height difference was?

[@lloyd4011]

This is what I was wondering. What happens if it's too low at the area in which you started?

[@theoisaac9948]

Teach. Enjoy the day.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks as always

[@henrietn]

Nice howto. I tried this too for the first time for the baby bedroom. Not bad for my first time. Mixing it up well is important to avoid lumps. But it can even out pretty amazing, even on an old house and old unlevel tiles.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Absolutely 👍

[@clivewilliams3661]

If the existing floor was laid in 1970's and noting that the the floor finish was probably vinyl tiles laid on a bitumen base adhesive then I would say there was a strong possibility that those tiles were asbestos thermoplastic tiles that have to be removed under controlled conditions so as not to allow free asbestos to escape. Vacuuming the floor afterwards is another hazardous operation where dist masks suitable for asbestos fibres is essential.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Fortunately there wasn’t any asbestos as we had checked 👍

[@davideyres955]

@@TheDIYGuy1that’s good. World have been a good service to the viewers to put that into the video as people don’t know and often crack on not knowing they’ve just given themselves a big problem. Great video. May well be doing this myself as my screwed seems to be coming apart so I need to find out why, fix it and repair.

[@chris6740]

I’m pretty sure there’s not much asbestos in the bitumen adhesive and doesn’t cause too many issues.

[@clivewilliams3661]

@@chris6740 It wasn't the bitumen per se that was the issue. The bitumen indicates that the tiles were possibly asbestos thermoplastic and the problem with taking them up is that some will come up whole but others break up into pieces and its those that are the problem with releasing asbestos fibres that will be floating around on the surface. It was right to vacuum the surface, but if the tiles were asbestos thermoplastic breathing filtration and eye protection should be worn.

[@willbee6785]

Smack on. You could also have spray misted the work area as you go. Where did you dump these tiles is the question?

[@stephenbutler463]

what about outside, need to ours as had a reconcrete of our yard, all over the place, like to use self leveling??>

[@jablot5054]

There is a resin based system you can use.

[@alanfrench52]

Hi mate can you use SLC on chipboard flooring please?

[@lew6073]

Yes, but it needs to be fibre reinforced for movement. Don’t forget to fill the gaps, don’t want it coming through downstairs 😂

[@Skandoro]

Don't do it. Better way is to lift the chipboard and if the joists are out of level, either add timber fillets or sister the joists but level and new chipboard installed on top. Not a quick job but doesn't add dead load to the floor and can still access pipes/wires below in future

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Some good responses below 😃

[@alanfrench52]

@@TheDIYGuy1 floating floor unfortunately. Kitchen flooded twice can't get chipboard replacement panels to play nice.

[@chrisb4504]

Over lay with plywood then use compound if not good enough

[@SocietyX.]

Put a few raw plugs in & a screw set at Finished floor height . to be 100% sure you are at grade

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Limey bar steward here too. Alright fella?!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

😉

[@MrYoucandoityourself]

What is the reason for levelling in this room? Flat floor, no imperfection, patch this joint with a small amount of the self-levelling compound using a straight edge.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

LVT laying. LVT needs a perfectly level floor or you’ll see imperfections

[@richjback]

That primer tub looked heavy

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Haha weighed a ton that 😉

[@mark.wilko1969]

Should have done the whole floor Including the extension

[@TheDIYGuy1]

No need. It’s perfect

[@bbibbless]

Bro doesn't realise this, but he has the best plastering brush ever made (the yellow one)

[@TheDIYGuy1]

😂👍

[@bbibbless]

@TheDIYGuy1 not even kidding. This doubles as my cleaning brush, edging brush, corner brush, splash brush, cleaning woodwork brush, it's literally amazing

[@joerpower210]

Either you're on holiday, or ive just seen your twin. 😂

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Haha butlins? 😉

[@joerpower210]

@TheDIYGuy1 yeah, walked past me whilst i was queuing for Santa 😂. I was staring, thinking where do I recognise him from 😂 have a good one 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Haha yeah you too 😃👍

[@petersplatt7561]

Would have liked PayPal on your UTC website.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

We will be able to do that a little further down the line 😃. Thanks

[@surfsailorking]

Hoe do you measure the height of materiaal used? Close to the heigher but its obvious, but farther away it seems harder to get the required height.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Sorry I don’t follow the question 🤔

[@surfsailorking]

In the beginning you mention you need to bridge a height difference of 10 mm. How do you know you have poured 10mm of material far away from that height reference point and not more or less material to get it at the required height.

[@coolmonkey619]

Do a video on your diet. Curious how you get so massive

[@TangoMikeOscar]

What the hell, vids only 4 hours old and all the tickets are gone already? You should consider raising the tickets next time to allow more time for people to enter.

[@RianQ]

Or limited the number of tickets per user. As it's 100 tickets per user and 999 in total for the draw. Willing to bet someone just spent £90 with the code to get 100 tickets and now their odds are 1 in 10 of winning...

[@TheDIYGuy1]

I know, they went really fast. Give us a bit of time to make the site as good as possible.

[@romeomeoful]

Great video as always

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thank you

[@cprog]

1st. Thanks!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Nice job! Haha

[@luckyluke8052]

Self leveling straight on bitumen??? Big NO NO Grinding before.

[@andylowry8439]

Best not to grind bitumen unless it's only a very thin layer of adhesive, best to use the right primer and correct type of smoothing compound which compatible with bitumen. There are so many compounds on the market and a lot of them are not suitable for going over bitumen.

[@luckyluke8052]

@andylowry8439 why not remove bitumen? Because is extra work???

[@stevehughes4734]

Been levelling floors for years, that bitumen adhesive residue, there’s only one compound that works on that substrate, Ardex Arditex NA, process still the same. Good luck with it not peeling.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Me too, the Larsen will be fine 👍