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Leveling a concrete floor--in sections?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We are replacing the old carpet in our basement with vinyl tile (likely a loose lay). The concrete floor underneath is fairly flat (some small dips) but then we discovered that a high-traffic corner is actually quite uneven: a raised patch (about 1/4 inch high, 1 foot wide, a few feet long--like a mini speed bump) and some sunken areas in or around that same patch. So we think we may need to use a self-leveling product.

Questions: can leveling be done in sections with some kind of dam in place? Would there be problems where the two edges come together? If we feather the edge of the first area will the leveler stick to it when we do the second area? I would like to try just leveling that corner and then seeing if the entire floor is flat enough, but we might end up needing to level more sections and I worry about the leveler sticking to another layer of leveler.

I would love to level and then floor the entire basement at once but we have large items in the basement that we cannot reasonably get up the stairs and out of the way without likely damaging them or injuring ourselves (large exercise machines). So we would have to do it like those sliding kids puzzles: level an area, move items on it, level the newly cleared area, floor it, move the items back, complete the floor. The partially completed floor would have its edge planks glued/taped down to help keep them from shifting as we moved the items.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

geoffrey_b
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If you want to do the job correctly, get a company that can pump 100's of gallons, and get the floor leveled in one day. Get some people to remove the large items.

How old is the slab?? If it's 20 or more years old, I believe it's cracked as much as it's going to. If it's a new slab, then consider Ditra.
SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
As above...you are about to do one of the trickiest things in the renovation industry: attempt Self-Leveling Compound in a basement in sections. Even the best of the best in the industry would have a hard time with this.

If this is DIY, you are in for one heck of a learning experience with the concrete, the self leveler (they are NOT self leveling...they are anything BUT self leveling), feather compounds, concrete moisture content, hydrostatic pressure (older slabs), sealants, etc. And then you also need to how to grind down the the humps and how to shot/sand blast the rest of the area just to get something else to "grab" the old slab.

Then you need to know the chemistry of it all and which companies make the best materials for your situation. Whew! No wonder the professionals charge $3-$5/sf to do work like this over a basement slab! Soooooo much to know! Soooo much product knowledge to deal with.

Personally I would have a look at doing some basic grinding to something close to level and then invest in an expensive subfloor system (like DriCore....which isn't dry but that's another thread) that allows "shims" to be used to get everything flat. Then lay your vinyl over top.

And please move the big items out of the basement. It will be two headaches (once to remove and once to put back into place). If you leave them in place you will have multiple headaches (you could be moving these things 5-6 times) if you do this piece meal. And you will run the risk of not getting things done properly because of that approach.

Or you can lay carpet down and skip all of the above.
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PRO
G & S Floor Service
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I agree with all the above. Plenty of ways to do this. The best way is to do it all at once and not in sections.

You need to find your high spots and grind them down, clean and remove all contaminants - grinding may be needed throughout, repair, patch any cracks and voids, clean, apply bond enhancer to prevent de-lamn, apply self-leveler (screed or spiked roll), take moisture test with calcium-chloride test (72 hr test) to decide what type of vapor barrier to use, then install your flooring, per mfg recommendations.
HU-978084775
last year
Im years late. Cut a 2x4 in to 4 2' lengths. lean against the wall. Get 2x4's long enough to reach other wall and more and cut them to span with an extra inch. Lay them on top of 2' pieces so you create a lean to. Get some plywood on that and you can work you big items off the floor to work. Can you switch to ceramic tile? Its easy and will solve you next problem. Get a rough look like saltillo or something and you can lay that floor right over some pretty rough issues. Thin set is cheap and will cover a world of rough as you lay. Perfect for a basement and done forever.

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