Check the label to ensure that it can be used on wood. If enough buckets are available, pre-measure the water, so that it doesnt have to be measured at the time of mixing. The whole idea of leveling the floor is to fill in low spots; so its a good idea to find them before starting. It also prevents water or moisture from making its way under the concrete compound., Dont worry too much about the color or height of the sill sealer, as you will cut off all exposed material after the floor has cured., If your room has drains or doorways, you need to create a dam or block to prevent the liquid compound from seeping through. Once the pour is started, the idea is to get it all done as quickly and seamlessly as possible. 0000162853 00000 n I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. Subscribe to our newsletter to get Mapei news, Fast-Setting, Polymer-Modified, Cement-Based Patching Compound Planipatch is an ultra fast-drying, self-curing, polymer-modified,, Professional, Self-Leveling Underlayment Novoplan 2 Plus is a high-strength, self-leveling, cement-based underlayment and repair mix for. Cover the entire area and use the gauge rake to ensure an even coat., If you inadvertently get some compound on the walls or baseboards, do not stop to try to clean it. Mario eventually went on to operate his own successful flooring company in Pennsylvania for 15 years before relocating to South Florida. For more sizes, use the material calculator at CustomBuildingProducts.com or contact CUSTOM Technical Services at 800-282-8786. Doing so will help increase tensile strength similarly to how rebar reinforces concrete., You should also add lath if you are fixing a floor that is warped or cracked due to settling or movement of the foundation. TechLevel-WSF SLU is a high flow, fiber reinforced calcium aluminate cement based, self-leveling underlayment that eliminates the need for reinforcing lath over plywood and OSB on interior wood framed subfloors. A sill sealer can be used around the perimeter of the room, sealing the plywood subflooring to the wall. Dont dump the dirty water down the drain, but rather in a hidden corner of the yard, where it can dry. 0000213583 00000 n 18 57 0000217689 00000 n You can use self-leveling compounds on wooden subfloors to achieve a surface finish similar to concrete. In the case of thicker applications of self-leveling floor compound, it may be advisable to use metal lath. This will help prevent the compound from hardening on the mixing paddle, making it necessary to clean it off. MAPEI makes several different levelers and patchesto accommodate a variety of issues that an installer may encounter on a tile-installation project. Unlike standard cement, which takes a lot of tooling and skill to level, a self-leveling compound can be poured onto an uneven surface and achieve beautiful results.. It may be necessary to put in a sill plate later to level, but thats better than having the compound flowing into the next room. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Flooring Pros & Cons, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring Pros & Cons, 11 Tips For Using Self-Leveling Compound on Wood Subfloors, What Screws to Use on Plywood & OSB Subfloors: Complete Guide, Can Plywood Subfloor be Painted (Used as Finished Flooring), 6 Carpet Brands to Avoid (& 5 Most Durable), 5 Laminate Flooring Brands To Avoid & 6 Brands Worth the Money, 8 Signs You Should Replace Subfloor & Costs (Water Damage Included), What Causes Moisture Under Hardwood Floors? Check the manufacturers directions as to how long to wait. Going back to the store for more isnt an option. Later, when the wood dried out again and shrunk back to its normal size, gaps would form between the wood and the leveling compound. Leveling compound that gets into the space between the plywood and the wall can leak into other rooms or into the floor below. Formulated using Controlled Cure Technology, TechLevel-WSF SLU helps eliminate installation problems caused by the free moisture found in traditional underlayment. Its not uncommon for pier and beam homes to have leveling issues. If you follow all the tips above and plan well, you can achieve great results without calling in professional help. 0000191742 00000 n 0000017279 00000 n Apply the mortar with a trowel to the holes or damaged areas. Providing better information on softwood and hardwood. Start the pour from as far away from the door as possible, working back towards the doorway. 0000007002 00000 n Depending on the product and the type of substrate, you may need to prime the surface before applying the patching compound. It is inevitable that some of the compound will get on the walls, while the pour is going on. 0000199838 00000 n Gaps in the plywood floor, such as those between sheets of plywood need to be sealed with a normal painters caulk. So, its a good idea to open all the packages and stage everything in sets for easy pouring and mixing. Add the dry compound to the measured water in the bucket and begin mixing with the drill and attachment., Mix thoroughly for about 2 minutes, achieving a consistency that is about the same as pancake batter. CustomTech offers real solutions to the challenges contractors face on the job every day, whether its a common issue like young concrete -- or the challenge of pumping leveler up 60 stories in high-rise construction. While it has a wide range of uses, the most common ones are restoring uneven floors and ensuring perfectly level floors before applying tile or other flooring types. You will also need to buy the tools required for mixing and pouring the self-leveling compound, including: Be sure to read the instructions on the self-leveling compound thoroughly to ensure that you have everything needed and understand the mixing ratio., If you plan to pour a thick layer of self-leveling compound, consider adding metal lath to the floor before pouring. %%EOF 18 0 obj <> endobj Self-leveling concrete allows you to get a perfectly level floor and fill in low spots before applying tile or other flooring materials., If you are working with old floorings, such as in remodels or houses built on pier and beam, then self-leveling concrete can save you from having to replace the entire subfloor.. 0000001920 00000 n Allow this to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the following steps, usually 24 to 48 hours., If the floor has some low spots, circle these with a permanent marker. Engineered to exceed the most stringent requirements, CustomTech products deliver exceptional strength, durability and ease of use. Be sure to check the instructions for the compound being used, as some may recommend it more than others. Leave the mortar to harden. Always buy more than needed, as the pour must be done completely to ensure that it levels. 0000035624 00000 n 0000198642 00000 n I've been conducting home inspections for 17 years. 0000012608 00000 n Products | Resources | Interactive Tools | Warranties | TechnicalTraining, Waterproofing Membranes And Underlayments, TechLevel WSF - Fiber Reinforced Self-Leveling Underlayment for Wood Subfloors Brochure, TechLevel WSF - Fiber Reinforced Self-Leveling Underlayment for Wood Subfloors Brochure - Spanish, No lath required for plywood and OSB subfloors, High strength for 1/4 to 1.5 nominal pours, Low Prep Formula; Just Sweep, Prime & Pour- no sandblasting required on acceptable surfaces, Compatible with most radiant heating systems, Exceeds TCNA and ASTM requirements for ceramic tile and resilient floor covering installations, High flow formula has excellent handling and exceptional flow retention properties. 0000001436 00000 n The ultimate resource for plywood. 0000020790 00000 n All dust and debris must be swept up or vacuumed off the plywood floor, as they would interfere with adhesion. Use the drill and mixing paddle to thoroughly mix the compound, scraping the sides and bottom of the bucket so as to ensure that no dry material stays there. When purchasing, buy more than you need and err on the side of caution.. A self-leveling compound is a cement mixture that includes a polymer to make it more viscous, ensuring it cures more uniformly. As with many other operations, proper surface preparation is critical to the successful application of self-leveling floor compound. The compound will not provide structural support but will improve the appearance and prevent water intrusion., It is also great when you need to raise a new floor or home addition to match the level of an existing floor. Water could go down in those cracks to be absorbed by the end grain in the plywood. Once you start pouring, you will not have time to run out and purchase more as a new layer cannot properly bond to an existing layer easily. Using a Self-Leveling Compound on a Wooden Subfloor, 4. Things get a bit more complicated with wood, though, as you need to seal it to prevent warping as it will absorb the water in the compound., While a few extra steps are necessary, it is still an easy, attractive, and long-lasting way to create an even and level floor surface or base for tile and other flooring types.. Self-leveling compounds are helpful in several circumstances when the existing floor is not even or level. Because mortar will stick to the concrete slab and the wood subfloor, and mortar will stick to mortar, then it would only make sense that mortar would work for leveling or patching, right? For smaller issues that only require patching and not necessarily the need to level an entire area, MAPEI makes a product called Planipatch, an ultra fast-drying, self-curing, polymer-modified, cement-based patching compound that rapidly develops high compressive strength and can be used to fill minor voids, holes and cracks. theplywood.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, The Ultimate Guide to Sealing Laminate Floors, Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater, Exterior Walls Construction: The Start-to-Finish Guide, The Uses of and Challenges in Cutting Formica, The Ultimate Guide to DIY Birdhouse Design, Aquarium Cabinetry: A DIY Guide to Custom Aquarium Stands, The Ultimate Guide to Building a Bat House, The Ultimate Guide to Building a Portable Generator Enclosure, How to Remove and Replace Your Load Bearing Wall, Drying Wood in the Oven: The Ultimate How-To Guide, How to Cut a Groove or Channel on Wood Without a Router. The lath will help create a more robust substrate that will resist cracking., Read the instructions on your specific compound to know the proper amount of water used. The compound sets rather quickly and cant be re-wetted to make it flow better. What is the mixing ratio of water to patching compound? 0000157938 00000 n If you notice a white film on the surface of the compound, it means that you have added too much water. 0000029272 00000 n Note that if the area is allowed to completely dry before the levelling compound is installed, you may need to re-prime the surface. Depending on the product you buy, you can pour the compound as thin as an eighth of an inch or as thick as 5 inches., This gives you a wide range of applicability and makes raising the floor much more manageable than traditional concrete., The product makes installing a radiant floor simple as it easily flows around and between the tubing or wires. People can trip or lose their balance much easier, if they dont have a level surface to walk on. 0000013933 00000 n 0000031532 00000 n Measure and fill each bucket you have with the needed amount of water so that you can mix multiple batches of the compound in succession quickly., Use one bucket of water to store the mixing attachment and drill when not in use to prevent it from drying out between mixes., Create a plan for pouring, starting from the area furthest from the doorway and working backward. It is best to use latex-based primer and a roller to get heavy and even coat the entire surface. <<3305A4895A60334098BAB0B158AAC77D>]/Prev 345902>> What Exactly is a Self-Leveling Compound? Likewise, doors need to be blocked off, with a piece of wood nailed or screwed into place, to form a straight line. Once the mortar is cured, each new layer becomes one with the previous layer; this makes the mortar unstable once curing has occurred. 0000024258 00000 n Sill sealer helps prevent cracking when walls expand or contract. But not all homes floors stay flat and level, even if a home is well-built. This problem can be even more pronounced on homes which are built on pier and beam, than other types of foundations. Its best to roll this on, rather than brushing it, as that tends to leave a thicker, more even coat. Prepare Multiple Buckets Before Doing any Mixing, 9. Likewise, the edges of the plywood need to be sealed, keeping moisture from getting to those edges or from flowing under the plywood. Chart for estimating purposes. Once the dust is removed, the floor should be cleaned with a damp sponge and alLowed to dry. Push the mortar into the void and leave it 'proud' (sitting slightly high) of the surface. (& How to Save it), Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Advertise. Drains should have a dam put around them, so that the leveling compound doesnt go down them. Give It Time Before Walking On it or Laying Flooring. You can also use the caulk to fill holes or cracks in the plywood where you suspect water could get in., Use a stapler to install a sill sealer at the base of all the walls that make up the floors perimeter. Instead, let it dry and then scrape it off later. But worse than that, it can be dangerous. The actual mixing is done with a electric drill and a paddle, of the same kind that is used for thinset or for mixing drywall compound. It produces a smooth, level substrate ready for the installation of most floor coverings. Most will work on wood as well, but its important to verify that the compound purchased will. UltraCare Stone, Tile, Grout Care and Maintenance Solutions, Products for Underground Construction (UTT), Systems for Installing LVT in Wet Environments, MAPEI Technical Institute (In-Person Trainings), MAPEI Technical Institute (Online Trainings), Save favorite articles, projects, products, solutions and calculations. 0000158015 00000 n You only get one shot at pouring the mixture, so be sure to read to the end before starting anything., When using self-leveling compounds on wood floors, you need to ensure the wood does not absorb the water in the mixture. Many specifically mention using it on old concrete, but what about wood subfloors? Visit our System Solutions portal here. You can do this by using a laser level or a long bubble level. %PDF-1.4 % If plywood does absorb water, it can cause it to expand and alter contact, leaving a void or warped area on the floor., Over time, this can worsen, leading to the need to replace the floor or repeat the entire process. Well, the answer is actually no. What is the range of thicknesses that Ardex recommends for this compound. 0000039374 00000 n Some patching compounds are cement-based mortars and are applied with a putty knife or trowel. 0000281960 00000 n Apply the smoothing and levelling compound before the mortar dries. Finally, wash the buckets, mixer, gage rake and other tools as soon as the job is done, so as to keep the compound from drying on them. 0000009171 00000 n Applying self-leveling compound is all about preparing the surface properly, using the correct mixing ratios, and working efficiently. It has about the same thermal properties as concrete and can withstand high temperatures., Many tiles, such as ceramic ones, require a perfectly level floor, or they can break or come loose. Block Areas Where You Dont Want the Compound to Flow, 8. 74 0 obj <>stream The title of this blog is a frequently asked question that tile installers have considered when a concrete or plywood substrate has dips or humps in the floor. CustomTech from Custom Building Products -- the brand flooring contractors have trusted since 1964. One of the many signs of a properly constructed home is a flat, level floor. Since the leveling compound is mixed one bucket at a time, it helps to fill an extra bucket with water, as a place to park the drill and paddle, between mixes. 0000213546 00000 n 0000016088 00000 n Dust and dirt can reduce the compounds ability to adhere to the floor and lead to problems later. > Products > CustomTech Flooring Prep > Leveling > TechLevel WSF Fiber Reinforced Self-Leveling Underlayment for Wood Subfloors. 0000006891 00000 n Walking on floors that arent level can be extremely uncomfortable. At MAPEI, we believe that preparation and execution go hand in hand to obtain the best possible solution to any situation. Lay it across the floor and look for the places where theres a larger gap between the floor and the straight edge. A trowel is useful around the edges, to ensure that the compound goes all the way to the wall and is smooth. After about 15 minutes, trim off the excess mortar and finish the surface with a wet trowel or sponge. But it should be caulked to the floor to keep the compound from leaking underneath. The most versatile self-leveler is Novoplan2Plus, a high-strength, cement-based underlayment and repair mix for use over interior concrete, plywood and other approved floor surfaces. On top of that, some floor coverings really need a flat surface to be mounted to. Remove all debris from the floor, including anything projecting from the floor, such as wood splinters or chips. Make sure that the substrate is dry, firm and free from dust and any contaminants. Below is a link to a video clip demonstrating how to use Ardex Liquid Backerboard. 0000217565 00000 n trailer Coverage may vary based on installation practices and jobsite conditions. concrete floors, the preparations are straightforward and usually involve a thorough cleaning to ensure the mix bonds well to the existing surface, When And How To Use Self-Leveling Concrete, Plus The 5 Best Brands, Paint and Drywall Mixer attachment for a standard power drill, Several buckets to prepare and mix the compound in. Mix and Pour the Compound Quickly but Evenly, 10. 0000004398 00000 n 0000033595 00000 n 0000005583 00000 n All rights reserved. 0000162529 00000 n 0000210830 00000 n startxref 0000194797 00000 n As each bucket is poured, it needs to be spread as well. Next, sweep or vacuum the floor thoroughly to ensure no dust or debris is left behind. Remove them with a saw, razor knife, or sander. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. Ensure that you get all the compound from the sides and bottom of the bucket and break up any dry clumps., Do not add more water than needed. However, some brands also include a liquid latex additive that you often purchase with the dry mix., For concrete floors, the preparations are straightforward and usually involve a thorough cleaning to ensure the mix bonds well to the existing surface. Better to allow it to dry, then scrape the dried up compound off the wall later. Novoplan 2 Plus and Planipatch are easy to use, work exactly as intended and are readily available at a local distributor in your area. Copyright 2022 MAPEI Corporation. Home Products Subfloor Preparation Patching Compounds. So of course, the next question is, What if it is done in layers? The answer again is no. 0000023062 00000 n Once you begin pouring the compound, you need to do all the work quickly as it cures rapidly, and you cannot retool it.. 0000019456 00000 n 0000067892 00000 n Mortars cannot be used to level or patch a floor ever! You need to do the entire process in one go. 0000196122 00000 n Later, when pouring the compound, ensure that you pour at these areas to ensure that they are filled and brought to the same level as the rest of the floor., Estimate the amount of compound needed by measuring the area of the floor and multiplying it by the desired height. With all that done; seal the plywood with a heavy coat of latex primer to prevent water from soaking into the plywood. Ceramic tile is especially susceptible to variations in the substrate, which can cause cracking and loosening of the tiles, if not properly taken care of. 0000017362 00000 n This can be made out of corrugated cardboard, taped together to form a ring. Looking for more tips for tile installation, as well as other flooring solutions? Mario brings years of knowledge and expertise in his role as a Technical Support Advisor at MAPEI. Other areas need to be sealed off too, if they exist. Some of the typical applications include: Self-leveling compounds are a quick and easy way to get a great floor with little tooling or dry time., It works well in basements and patios that are chipped or cracked, but it would be too expensive or difficult to replace the entire slab. 0 Self-leveling compounds come in a variety of polymer mixes, including: These bases are pre-mixed with concrete to form a resin dense enough to self-level while remaining strong and durable.You may see it labeled as self-leveling compound or self-leveling concrete at the hardware store, but know that they are the same thing., In most cases, you add the correct proportion of water to the powder compound to prepare the mixture. At the beginning of the clip the installer mixes up a patching compound and applies it to a ply subfloor to fill the grooves between the plywood sheets. 0000007098 00000 n You need to keep moving, as you only have about 20 minutes before the compound starts to cure and set up., Use a bucket with soap and water to wash off all tools before the compound dries on them.