Floor Leveling for Hardwood Floors on Concrete

[Jim McClain]

Here is a good video on using leveling compound to make your concrete floor flat and ready for installing hardwood (as well as other flooring products). The video was produced and narrated by Ken Fisher, of HardwoodInstaller.com.

It's not long enough to impart good technique, but it does offer very good advice. It's a little choppy and I would have liked to see more actual live-motion action. But I think you will find the information helps you with your floor leveling project.

YouTube - Floor Leveling For Hardwood Floors - Concrete

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Jim

[Kman]

Two things I noticed on this video:

1. I would never mix SLC, or much of anything, with a 2x4. By the time you got all the clumps out of the mix, the pot life would be half gone.

2. I have always followed the mixing directions using measuring cup for water, as opposed to just guessing at it, like I might with thinset or grout. SLC is so temperamental that too much or too little water can make the whole thing a waste of time. Not worth risking the whole installation on something as simple as failing to measure water quantities.

[Peter Kodner]

Kman, it is not so much they are temperamental as they are an engineered product. The solely use the water in the admix to hydrate unlike like regular concrete that will grab moisture from anything (air, ground, sprayed on) they can.

Blow the W/C (water/cement) ratio and you have a very poor pour

[Kman]

1 : of, relating to, or arising from temperament : constitutional <temperamental peculiarities>
2 a : marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes <a temperamental child> b : unpredictable in behavior or performance <a temperamental computer>

This was what I meant by temperamental. Kind of a personification.

Peter Kodner said Kman, it is not so much they are temperamental as they are an engineered product. The solely use the water in the admix to hydrate unlike like regular concrete that will grab moisture from anything (air, ground, sprayed on) they can. Blow the W/C (water/cement) ratio and you have a very poor pour

[Ken Fisher]

It's a little choppy and I would have liked to see more actual live-motion action.

Jim, it suxs. It was my first one with limited material to work with. That’s the biggest problem with video and me at the moment. Having moved to North Georgia I can’t get people interested, but I’m a lousy salesman anyway. Mention the internet, video or anything related I get stares…and kinda “well who the heck are you anyway?”

Also I don’t install floors anymore, so I can’t get the footage. I sure can’t do it with the small cabin I live in...hehe. With the ten grand (lighting, cameras, edit software) I have invested in it I’d like to make it work.

I’d love to get more videos out there…It’s something I really enjoy doing. If anyone in Georgia has something to share I’m interested.

I’m sure you may have the same problem with getting guys interested in sites you can build. Most people would rather plunk down a few grand to someone that has an official “web designer” shingle hanging than have a floor professional do it. Of course connections work (John Simonson, exception) It’s strange. The latter is more of a waste of money IMO because you know the flooring business, designers don’t.

A site I’ve been tinkering with. Have no clue if I’ll ever do anything with it. Look ma no errors..LOL. Dreamweaver

Atlanta Hardwood Installation - We Do The Burbs

[Dan Schultz]

Hey Ken, long time no type. How you been?

[TFP Admin]

Thanks for checking in, Ken. I know it can be difficult, but if I remember right, you have a number of videos. Any time you want to post one here, it's as simple as posting the YouTube address and providing a few comments with it. That's what this forum is for and I welcome any videos you'd like to share.

Yeah, offering websites to flooring professionals has been a very tough business. It's strange to hear so many on these forums talk about getting value and professionalism - and the oft-repeated, "you get what you pay for" - and then see so many go for the "free" websites or the cheap template sites instead of one that actually does what a real website is supposed to do for a business. It's discouraging.

Anyway... Don't be a stranger. Oh, and please do take advantage of our PRO Directory. Follow this link to add your business and website to the retailers section in Georgia. Make it purtty.

Jim

[Ken Fisher]

but if I remember right, you have a number of videos

Yea, but I'm not happy with them. They just don't have that sparkle I'm after. But that takes practice and good shoot locations. Itty bitty rooms and glaring windows don't work.

Another thing is I have to make guys understand even though it may be a three minute video it could take all day to shoot. I felt rushed doing Hardwood Floors in Dry Climates , but I had fun with it. I'm disappointed that this guy doesn't take more advantage of the video. It's not professional but it shows people upfront who they may be dealing with..and Charlie is well spoken.. a plus.

[Ken Fisher]

Oh I didn't see Dan Schultz. Doing' fine, but getting a bit bored during the winter months. I'm a gardener now in my spare time.