Ardex K-15

[Jim McClain]

How did I manage to go 35 years without ever having to use an SLC? Are the builders here that good, or have I just been lucky? I have to level an "L" shaped area that is an over-all 6 x 8' -- 32 sf -- and some places have to be brought up nearly an inch and a quarter. The concrete subfloor is an old garage floor that is cracked and broken, but otherwise very solid and dry as a bone. I bought 4 bags of Ardex K-15 for the job. I plan to apply Lee's Everseal as a sealer on the subfloor first, even though it's a dry slab. I am guessing I will have to "dam" a single doorway and then worry about the transition to that other room next year when I do carpet (I'm thinking ramp).

This area is getting laminate flooring and baseboard. It is actually a sunken area to the rest of the house -- about 6" lower than the adjacent room that I am doing the rest of the laminate. The other room that gets carpet next year is about a half inch lower than the high spot in that bad area (will be about 3/4" when I'm done I recon).

Any of you guys with lots of experience would be doing me a favor if you passed on any tips you have about working with this product.

Thanks, Jim

[Daniel Wachtel]

Hammer drill, level, and tapcons to mark your pour depth. This makes a nice guide. Spread it with a rake until your tapcons are exposed at the same level of the k-15 surface. Old golf shoes are a plus if ya got em, they virtually eliminate having to smooth out footprints in large areas. I highly recommend calling Pete Bassar at Ardex, the guy knows more about their stuff than anyone I've ever met.

[Nick Arrera]

Old Golf Shoes for sale // Please specify size ..

[Jerry Thomas]

Very good idea about the tapcons. Thank you Daniel.

[hookknife]

Jim, use thier p-51 primer, you can dam doorways etc with 1/2" weather striping the foam rubber stuff, then peel it after the ardex is dry

[Peter Kodner]

Baseball shoes with metal spikes are a good alternative to golf shoes. SLCs are far different than trowel applied underlayments in that you do not want to over work it after pouring. Use the Ardex plastic screed and the Ardex float. Pull the float across it only once to get it smooth. If you overwork it, it will set up real fast and leave ridges.

[stullis]

Make sure any holes are plugged including floor cracks, you might be surprised at how much will run into the cracks. You might want to have a couple of more bags on hand.
Figure a pour about 1/4" over the highest point for best results.