"Please recommend a self-leveling underlayment," in the Vinyl Flooring Q&A forum, begins: "I have 2 floors side by side that I want to cover with glue down Naturelle/Decoria pvc vinyl planks.
One ..."
I have 2 floors side by side that I want to cover with glue down Naturelle/Decoria pvc vinyl planks.
One floor is cement with cutback adhesive on it. I will wet scrape off as much of the cutback as possible.
The adjoining floor is 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch taller and consists of cement terrazzo.
Please recommend a product (I assume it is best to use a self-leveling product??) that will make these 2 floors level and also be compatable to cover the very thin layer of cutback adhesive. The leveling product will be applied over the lower cement floor NOT over the Terrazzo floor.
how many sq. feet need to be brought up to the higher slab? Self leveler is expensive. I'm familiar with the Ardex system and the tool kit with barrel plus a pair of soccer cleats is a must for a large area, IMO. A crew of three savvy DIYers could probably achieve acceptable results after watching the video. Pretty big gamble if you need a lot. One $50 bag will cover 15sq ft at 1/2in thickness.
Of course, if the lower slab isn't uniformly low you may need more, maybe less.
Is the terrazzo slab level? If you self level part of it and not the other you might end up with a flatness issue. Your self-leveler will be level and the other slab can angle up or down.
I use a laser level to figure out how low/where/volume needed by using a tape measure and notes directly on the floor. I plan for 1/8in above the highest point. If you don't have a laser level a "mason string" works too. Stretch it tight and level in a few areas and take some measurements.
I'm afraid I have to back Stullis on this one. Gale, we do a lot of floor preparation and it is not something I would recommend for even a seasoned DIY person. In Australia many problem installs are caused by poor quality floor prep. Such a job as yours is going to need good floor levelling done. I would strongly recommend using a pro on this. Sorry to rain on your parade.
Self-leveling is a matter of preparation and following the instructions to a tee. Don't think you can skip a step or cheat anywheres. The names I trust are Ardex, Henry, Armstrong..........there are others but why bother?
As the others mentioned to give you hope that you can do this yourself we need some idea what scale this whole project is on. A 1/2"-3/4" drop off can be a big deal or not so much of a big deal depending on how many bags/pounds of floor patch we're talking about.
On a commercial project for vinyl planks it would be rare to use a self leveling compound. With an 8-10 screed rod and some good cement patch I'll have that thing looking flush much cheaper than you can do with the bags of self leveling.
Self-leveling is a matter of preparation and following the instructions to a tee. Don't think you can skip a step or cheat anywheres. The names I trust are Ardex, Henry, Armstrong..........there are others but why bother?
As the others mentioned to give you hope that you can do this yourself we need some idea what scale this whole project is on. A 1/2"-3/4" drop off can be a big deal or not so much of a big deal depending on how many bags/pounds of floor patch we're talking about.
On a commercial project for vinyl planks it would be rare to use a self leveling compound. With an 8-10 screed rod and some good cement patch I'll have that thing looking flush much cheaper than you can do with the bags of self leveling.
Too many unknowns to give specific advice, but I would ditto what Brain has said here based on my own experiences.
Notice the 3/4 inch height difference between the taller terrazzo floor and the lower cement floor.
THE LOWER CEMENT FLOOR IS 13 feet wide by 19 feet deep.
My understanding is that the subfloor must be perfectly level and smooth for VINYL planks because everything on the subfloor will telegraph thru to the vinyl.
I'd like to use glue down vinyl planks across both floors joining them to look like one floor if the process to make these 2 floors level and smooth enough for vinyl isn't extremely expensive ($500. or less) .
I may need to use carpet or ceramic tile instead of vinyl........I assume the carpet and or ceramic tile do NOT require the subfloor to be quite so perfect.
I WILL HIRE A PROFESSIONAL FOR THIS PROJECT........but first I want your opinions to see if it is financially feasible for me to make these 2 floors flush and level and use glue down vinyl planks.
Otherwise, I will look at ceramic tile or carpet.
Notice the 3/4 inch height difference between the taller terrazzo floor and the lower cement floor.
THE LOWER CEMENT FLOOR IS 13 feet wide by 19 feet deep.
My understanding is that the subfloor must be perfectly level and smooth for VINYL planks because everything on the subfloor will telegraph thru to the vinyl.
Level is not the same as flat, you do need a flatness of 3/16 within 10 ft for most products
I'd like to use glue down vinyl planks across both floors joining them to look like one floor if the process to make these 2 floors level and smooth enough for vinyl isn't extremely expensive ($500. or less) .
This is not going to happen for $500 especially that deep and that much area.
I may need to use carpet or ceramic tile instead of vinyl........I assume the carpet and or ceramic tile do NOT require the subfloor to be quite so perfect.
carpet is more forgiving but Tile is not as forgiving as most people think.
I WILL HIRE A PROFESSIONAL FOR THIS PROJECT........but first I want your opinions to see if it is financially feasible for me to make these 2 floors flush and level and use glue down vinyl planks.
Otherwise, I will look at ceramic tile or carpet.
Most self levelers will run anywhere from 35-45 dollars a bag, and just guesstimating, looking at your photos you will only be getting 10 ft bag at 3/4 inch. I would guess you will need about 20 bags for your project.
These are just my observations, but others im sure will add their thoughts.
By the time you prep it to get ready for the SLC and then do the pour you will be around $2000 to $2500 to have the floor leveled professionally using SLC.
If you do it yourself you will have around $1000+ in materials plus your labor and some friends' labor to help with the pour. Minimum of 3 people needed to help with the pour, 5 would be better. 2 to help mix, 2 to pour and 1 to rake it out.
I figured you will need around 30 bags @ 3/4" depth for the entire room and you may more.
That concrete floor looks pretty nasty, is that oil or grease on the floor ? If it is it will have to be removed before any patch work can be done by either shot blasting or grinding.
Hi
In this instance i would go with Uzin not sure if its available over there but here in the UK thats what we would most likley use.
1. Desnot floor and degrease
2. Apply epoxy DPM and sand blind with Uzin kiln dried sand
3. Sweep and vacum off all sand
4. Cover whole floor with 25mm gravel as evenly as possible
5. Mix base coat latex screed and pour all over the gravel making sure the gravel only just sticks through the finish surface but above the teratzo
6. Prime teratzo with Uzin primmer
7. Finnaly apply finished coat of Uzin self leveling latex using trowel and spiked roller
Finished sub-floor will be smooth air free and ready to install wood planks.
