Using a Self-Leveling Compound on a Wooden Subfloor
- 1. Clean the Wood Floor Thoroughly ...
- 2. Seal all Cracks and Seams ...
- 3. Install a Sill Sealer to Wall Bases ...
- 4. Block Areas Where You Don’t Want the Compound to Flow ...
- 5. Seal The Plywood Well ...
- 6. Mark Low Areas For Best Results ...
- 7. Buy the Right Self-leveling Compound ...
- 8. Prepare Multiple Buckets Before Doing any Mixing ...
Full Answer
How to use self leveling compound on plywood?
To use this on plywood, you’ve to get rid of all dirt and debris. Use a floor primer to coat the entire floor afterward. Get the right portion of water and self-leveling compound. Mix them using a paddle or electric mixer. Pour the mix into the unleveled area late on. Anyhow, this was just a quick glimpse of the whole procedure.
How do you level a plywood floor with primer?
Apply a latex floor primer to the entire plywood surface using a paint roller. Use a brush for application in smaller areas. Thoroughly cover all areas with one coat of primer to enhance adhesion of the leveling compound to the plywood surface. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly.
Can you use self leveler on wood flooring?
Although most compounds are suitable for concrete or wood subfloors, check the package to ensure that wood flooring is listed. You will also need to buy the tools required for mixing and pouring the self-leveling compound, including: Paint and Drywall Mixer attachment for a standard power drill
How do you level a plywood table top?
Use the longest straight-edged tool that you can reasonably maneuver along the plywood surface in order to accurately determine the parameters of the low or uneven areas for filling. Use very cold water for leveling compound mixing to increase the amount of working time available before the leveling compound begins to cure and dry.
Can you use self leveler on plywood subfloor?
If you've got a plywood subfloor, like many buildings do, you can leave it in place and apply self-leveling concrete directly on top of it. Once the plywood subfloor is covered, just apply the finish you want to achieve the desired look.
What should I use to level plywood subfloor?
Use an underlayment, floor leveler or floor patch product to fix low spots in a wood or concrete subfloor. An underlayment is a thin layer of material sandwiched between two other materials.
How do you level a subfloor with self-leveling compound?
Fill Gaps. Mix self-leveling compound and trowel the mixture over the seams and screw heads. Allow the self-leveling compound to dry, then sand the seams and nail-heads smooth. Vacuum the entire floor before proceeding with the new floor installation.
How do you level uneven plywood subfloor?
Using a flat-edged trowel, apply the floor leveling compound. Fill in all dips and uneven spots in the subfloor. Allow the leveler to dry as is instructed by the manufacturer's product label. Remove hills or humps using a floor sander until the entire floor is level.
Do I need primer for self-leveling compound?
Self-leveling underlayments require the use of a primer prior to installation (like the TEC Multipurpose Primer). Failure to use product recommended primer may result in installation failure. Primer retains the moisture within the self-leveling underlayment to allow proper curing.
How do you level a plywood subfloor before installing hardwood?
1:314:09How to Prep Subfloor for Hardwood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut it should be perpendicular to the floor joists. If it won't be you can add another plywood layerMoreBut it should be perpendicular to the floor joists. If it won't be you can add another plywood layer to strengthen the floor. Next prep the doorways stack.
How do you prepare a wood subfloor for self-leveling?
Using a Self-Leveling Compound on a Wooden SubfloorClean the Wood Floor Thoroughly. ... Seal all Cracks and Seams. ... Install a Sill Sealer to Wall Bases. ... Block Areas Where You Don't Want the Compound to Flow. ... Seal The Plywood Well. ... Mark Low Areas For Best Results. ... Buy the Right Self-leveling Compound.More items...•
How do I stop self-leveling compound from running?
Build a barrier in Doorways: Create a barrier in a doorway with strips of wood. Make sure you seal the wood to the floor with silicone as well as the area where the wood strip meets the expansion foam. This stops the flow of the liquid leveling compound from one room to another.
How thick can you pour floor leveler?
QUIKRETE® Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer (No. 1249-50) can be installed from 5/8 inch (16 mm) thick to a feather edge. For areas deeper than 5/8 inch (16 mm), apply QUIKRETE® Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer (No. 1249-50) in layers no greater than 5/8 inch (16 mm) each.
How do you level a plywood subfloor for laminate?
Thoroughly vacuum the existing floor, and use a long floor leveler and tape measure to ensure the subfloor is level within 3/16 inch for every 10 feet. You'll need to know how to level a floor: Just sand any high spots and fill the low spots with leveling compound.
How do you prepare a floor for self leveling compound?
0:364:00How to level a concrete floor part 1: preparation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs with most DIY tasks correct preparation is a key part of producing a good quality finished jobMoreAs with most DIY tasks correct preparation is a key part of producing a good quality finished job first give the floor thorough sweep to remove any dirt and dust.
How do you fix a high spot in a subfloor?
Paper Shims and Plywood Strips Minor high spots for hardwood and laminate floor installations are easily fixed with tar paper shims. The most basic method is to take a piece of tar paper, fold it in half and then push that underneath the flooring material being installed over the subfloor.
How do you level a plywood subfloor for laminate?
Thoroughly vacuum the existing floor, and use a long floor leveler and tape measure to ensure the subfloor is level within 3/16 inch for every 10 feet. You'll need to know how to level a floor: Just sand any high spots and fill the low spots with leveling compound.
How do you shim an uneven subfloor?
Minor FixesFill up slight low spots with wood shims. ... Screw the wood shims into place on top of the joists with a drill and screws to bring the low spots up to the same height as the high spots for an even installation area for the subfloor material. ... Plane down slight high points of joists with the planer.
Can you put self leveling compound on wood floors?
Wood floors need to be primed before covering them with self leveler. The floor will be covered with water-saturated leveler, which will cause the wood to swell. It will shrink back down when it dries, which could cause cracks in the underlayment and tiles above. The primer prevents the wood from absorbing water.
How much does a 50 lb bag of self leveler cover?
approximately 40 Sq. Ft.Coverage: One 50 Lb. bag will cover approximately 40 Sq. Ft.
Why use self leveling concrete?
Self-leveling concrete has more advantages than disadvantages. It was made to get rid of leveling problems while giving minimum effort. Here goes a list of the certain reasons why you should use self-leveling concrete-
How long does self leveling concrete last?
Answer: Self-leveling concrete can often last for years. Only if they are properly applied and distributed evenly. Otherwise, they might start to crack after 4-5 months.
Why do you need a floor primer?
Plywood requires a floor primer to be smooth. It’s used to increase the adhesion of the plywood.
How many square feet can a 50 lb bag of concrete cover?
Answer: A self-leveling concrete can cover a huge area. A 50 lb bag of concrete can cover at least 40 square feet. But the concrete has to be ⅛” thick.
What to use to mark a lower area?
If any area is lower than other areas both horizontally and vertically, mark it. You can use pencils or markers to mark the area.
Can you pour self leveler concrete twice?
Answer: Yes, it’s possible to pour self-leveler concrete twice. But you’ve to apply the floor primer again. Apply the 2nd batch of self-leveler on it later on.
Can plywood flooring have debris?
Plywood flooring can have a lot of debris hanging around. You’ve to get rid of all the dirt and debris first.
What is self leveling compound?
Self leveling compounds are simple to prepare and use, and are available in many formulations to meet a variety of flooring needs.
How to mix water based leveling compound?
Mix the leveling compound and liquid for two to three minutes. Use an electric power drill and mixing hook or paddle attachment to thoroughly incorporate the leveling compound and liquid and also to speed the mixing time. Scrape the bottom and side edges of the bucket during mixing to ensure that all of the compound material is incorporated into the liquid. When adequately mixed, the consistency of most water-based leveling mixtures will be slurry-like. Look for a pancake-batter consistency that is easily pourable without being too runny.
How long does it take to apply a leveling compound?
Prepare only as much material as can be applied in 10 to 20 minutes.
How to get rid of dust on a carpet?
Use a damp mop to remove remaining dust or particles that will interfere with adhesion and allow the surface to dry completely.
Can self leveling compounds be reused?
Collect all mixing and application tools prior to preparing the leveling compound mixture. Self leveling compounds set up quickly and most formulations cannot be reused or re-tempered by the addition of more liquid.
What Is Self-Leveling Concrete?
Self-leveling concrete has been modified with a polymer to make it flow more easily. When it’s poured, it can be easily spread to the surrounding areas with the help of a gauge rake or another smoothing tool.
How long does it take for a Paramol primer to dry?
Ensure that all areas are covered and that there is no puddling anywhere on the subfloor. Brush off any puddles and excess primer and allow the primer to dry for 6-8 hours, but no more than 24 hours. If it has dried for more than 24 hours, another primer coat will be necessary.
How thick is plywood subfloor?
The thickness of the plywood subfloor must be a minimum of 3/4″ of an inch, and it should be tongue-and-groove, untreated, APA-rated, Type 1, exterior-grade, plywood, OSB, or equivalent.
Why do you need to primer concrete?
Not using primer or missing spots could also allow outgassing bubbles from the wood to rise through the concrete, affecting the smoothness of the surface.
How long to mix concrete with 650 rpm?
Using a 650 rpm drill, mix the concrete at the recommended proportions for three full minutes in large drums that have been pre-wetted to prevent them from absorbing water from the mixture. Use a gauge rake with the ears set to the thickness at which you are laying the concrete to spread it in an even layer.
Why is polymer used in concrete?
The polymer also helps keep the mixture homogeneous so that larger, heavier particles don’t settle at the bottom as the floor cures. This means that the thickness of the concrete can vary over the floor’s surface without changing the appearance, ensuring a uniform, level look across the entire floor.
Is self leveling concrete easier to install?
Apply with ease. Because self-leveling concrete has a lower viscosity than regular concrete, installation and leveling do not require vibration or compaction, making it easier to install, especially for the DIYer. There is no need to rent any special equipment, and the installation steps are easy to follow.
How do I shim cedar shakes?
Go get a bundle of cedar shakes. Rip them down to 3" shims. Then shim the new flooring up to meet a flat spanner that rests on another piece of flooring on the other side of the dip. (tacking this row down with a couple finish nails will give you better results) Then shim, and nail through them. Spacing as you normally would. Then cut the shims, and repeat until you clear the dip.I know it's a lot of shimming. And make sure to use 2" staples/nails.
What is the meaning of "back up"?
Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Can you use felt on a leveling compound?
I would not use felt and I wouldn't worry about having to tape that seam if you're going to use leveling compound. But you could try using strips of luan (1/8" plywood), cut to fit that gap as large as possible, so long as they're still underneath your level (a high spot would be worse IMO).
Can self leveling compound seep through plywood?
Your leveling doesn't have to be perfect but I would fix the dip. This is very very easy. Self-leveling compound cannot seep through the plywood unless you put way way too much on. If you are truly worried about that you can use something like redgard but I think that is total overkill.
Does levelness matter?
Also levelness does not matter, it is flatness that matters.
Can felt be compressed?
The felt itself is already compressed, but the layers can compress a very small amount. Given the strength of wood flooring, a little dip the depth of a few sheets of paper, won't affect anything or show. So I suggest layers of felt.
Is self levelling an oxymoron?
Agree that the term self levelling is a bit of an oxymoron. Sure it self levels within itself, but it doesn' t know the level of the surrounding areas! Confirm also that level is irrelevant, flatness is all.