HELP!!! My tears are falling like rain!!!!

15 years ago

Hello all. I need to install engineered wood over slab. Contractor says that floor has high and low spots. I check with my 6' metal level, find some spots within 1/8". Contractor insists that self-leveling is the way to go. I hesitate. Finally I give the green light. Self-leveling is poured. As soon as it's ready for foot traffic, I check with the level again. There are still high and low spots. Some discrepancies as much as 1/4". It seems that the self-leveling is totally unnecessary. I don't know what to do now. Perfect example of "money down the drain." Except this time I wish there were a real drain for the self-leveling stuff to all drain away, and I can work with my not-so-problematic original slab!!

Any advice is appreciated. :(

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Comments (5)

glennsfc
15 years ago
From what you say it seems to me that the underlayment job was not so good. It is the contractor's job to see that the slab is flat within the wood manufacturer's guidelines...if it is not, then it must be made flat. If the contractor failed to make it so, then it is the contactor's mistake to fix.
mminkous
Original Author
15 years ago
I was too anxious to vent my frustration that I missed a few details in my description. :s Prior to self-leveling, there were high and low spots at various places. Contractor insisted that self-leveling be poured onto the *entire* slab, about 500sf. So was it done. Now the entire slab has highs and lows again. Now he wants to fix with thinset mortar. I don't know what the correct method is, and I'm afraid that more fixes will just create more trouble, and the slab height just ends up higher and higher, but still not flat.

Any advice is appreciated.
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floorguy
15 years ago
That guy got into your wallet!!! Self levelers are used when the concrete is way off or badly surface damaged. Usually they are not WAY off or they would not have passed building codes or you would see a pretty good size crack on the outside of the foundation.

You map the floor finding the high spots and grind those down, then you map the concrete for low spots and using a screed(non-flexible straight edge)and drag it across the low spot filling the low spot with "mud" Portland patching compound, like Mapei Plani Patch $10-20 per 25-lb bag, depending where you purchase it.

You better know exactly what your doing, using a self leveler. A mixing pump is the best way, 5 gallon buckets and you don't have enough flow for it to "heel" flat.
casey_wa
15 years ago
I am just wondering if the 1/8 inch variations are too much for engineered flooring. What does the flooring material state for specifications? Wouldn't there be the same variations if one was going over a wood subfloor? ...especially on an older home?

Casey

"http://www.driverdb.com/Sean McDonagh"
glennsfc
15 years ago
Agreed. high spots get ground down and low spots (birdbaths) get screeded with a suitable underlayment patch.

However, when I found it necessary to use a self-leveling compound on a job, the resulting floor was so flat that it made you dizzy just to look at it. You really have to know what you're doing when mixing and placing self-leveler.

HELP!!! My tears are falling like rain!!!!

Comments (5)

glennsfc

mminkous
Original Author

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HELP!!! My tears are falling like rain!!!!

Comments (5)

glennsfc

mminkousOriginal Author

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mminkous
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