Self Levelling A Concrete Floor

[cr0ft]

Hi all. I know there are a few bits of advice on the forums but my question is fairly specific. We are self levelling a 23sq m. concrete floor across 3 rooms in a domestic property. I reckon we will need an average fill of 6mm across the floor or there abouts. To my mind that is 1.38m3 of compound.

Quick question, is it ok to mix up, say, 10 buckets of the stuff, leave them to stand until they are all mixed and then pour them all at once? My only other experience with pouring SLC by the bucket (with one mixing and one pouring) was that each bucket was starting to cure on the floor before the next one was laid. Not ideal!

I presume the stuff is like tile adhesive in that it doesn't really set that quickly until it's spread out over a large area?

 

[Andy Tiler]

Hi croft I wouldn't mix 10 buckets at a time! When I self level i mix 2/3 at a time my son mixes and I pour we've done 75 bags this way and the floor was bob on. Once you start you can't really stop just do one room at a time?!i also use a bubble roller... And don't forget to prime the floor!!!!
hope that helps
Andy

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Never tried that method myself.
Even 23 sq metres can be easily done by 1 man in a short period of time.
You can mix a couple of buckets at a time and while letting 1 'stand' before remix you can pour the other.
10 at once!!!!!

 

[cr0ft]

Cheers folks. Just to make it clear, I'm doing all 3 rooms at once, not one at a time 🙂

From reading up it seems that there is a huge difference in quality between the different SLCs. Last time we used the one Topps Tiles sold and I wasn't hugely impressed. Mixed as per the instructions it was going off within 5 minutes of being poured.

Very keen to use a good product that gives me enough time to get it all spread out properly and will happily take recommendations!

 

[Andy Tiler]

Tilemaster levelflex!! When I say 1 room at a time I mean you can stop at the doorways have a brew then crack on with the rest?. But 23mtrs ain't a lot
😉

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Webber flex and if it's local you can be home in time to catch the milkman!

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I'm with Andy on the Tilemaster Levelflex and with TJ on the mixing method

 

[widler]

23m2 ? you would have it done in no time,on your own, while having brews,few bacon butts and nipping home to see the mrs 😉 😉
Tilemaster is great stuff

 

[cr0ft]

Last time I did a 16m2 floor I used the Topps Tiles stuff. I am presuming that stuff is just rubbish SLC then? Ultra Level It 1 it is called. It was going off within about 5 minutes or so of the bucket being poured which made it nearly impossible to get the stuff down quickly enough to produce a smooth, level floor.

How long does the Tilemaster take to go off once you pour it? I.E before trying to roller in the different bucket pours doesn't work any more??

 

[Andy Tiler]

I'd say about 20/30 mins if you've got a mixing drill with a variable speed turn it down slightly aswell that helps! I've used the ultra stuff also and I didn't like it.