Self leveling a floor, how it's done.
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 21. 08. 2021
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Self leveling a floor how it's done. When installing very large tiles, it is critical that the substrate be flat to facilitate the installation of the tile. In some cases when there are just a few bad spot in the floor, where the might be a dip or a small hump in the floor, some spot patching or some grinding might be enough tp bring the floor into tolerance. Most times, especially on larger floors a free flowing self leveler will be needed. The term self leveler, or self leveling can be deceiving, you can't just pour the material on the floor and walk away, that will result in making the situation worse and only cost you time money and add even more problems to the floor. In this video I show you how to "Pin" a floor to get the correct amount of self lever where it is needed, I also show you how to prep the floor and spread the self leveling underlayment to get a flat floor ready for tile.
All tile installed by Sal DiBlasi, Elite-tile Company, in the Boston North Shore area. This video contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission if you click on the product link.
#tile #transformthetrade #howtotile #installingtile #howtoinstalltile #Schlutersystems
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I love the tape on the drill trick. I'm going to steal that and act like I made it up myself.
Me too đ
đđ
Just donât block the vent holes so the drill doesnât overheat
Plus one
A true tradesmen
I tell people that can't afford to pay a contractor to watch your videos multiple times before doing anything else. You're the best source of tile how to on CZcams.
I do the same thing. 1/2 of them hire me 10% of those hire me to do it over from the cheaper guy.
Not so sure about that! Been doing it for 30+ yrs and i see a few problems with his methods! Plus he is rushing into this without diagnosing whats causing the floors to be so out of level! He thinks the self leveler is going to solve the problem and it will short term while also adding lots of weight to the floor / framing after the finish floor is installed!
@@StonemanRocks you been doing it wrong then. Wood framing is never as flat as a tile floor. Never. Not even concrete buildings have floors as flat.
@@dekonfrost7 doing what wrong?
As far as i know you have never seen anything ive done so why you would even say that is beyond me! I know what it takes to make a floor flat before you tile it if thatâs what you mean! Your comment makes no sense!
That idea of taping your drill with level lines is genius! Definitely using this method. Thank you
Thanks, glad it helped
I agree I have never had to measure screws this far but using the laser level across the room is brilliant. He does have a few good tricks and for that I send money. I donât agree with all he does but does anyone ever agree with all the things others do⊠probably not. I would never have people show up to a job with their ass hanging out because their stomach is so big but hey we are all different.
Superb tutorial as always but I think I'd put the sill-seal and caulk in first and then do the screw levelers so I wasn't banging my knees into the screws doing it the way shown.
This was the most comprehensive video on leveling a floor! Thank you for once again giving us premium content, definitely learned a lot!!
Glad it was helpful!
@@SalDiBlasi do you sand after?
Thanks again for another great tip.
I donât think âself levelingâ is exactly the best name, itâs work.
for sure. this guy has some energy i never had
Self leveling, as in "I leveled it myself!"
Dude, I've never seen anyone care so much about doing their job the right way! I'd hire you and pay you 1.5 x your asking price đ. This was literally perfection.
Very informative and well-produced video. As a long-time DIYer, I consider three things before I get started: Time, Effort, and Cost. I estimate these and then use my 4-3-2 rule. I multiply my time by 4, the effort by 3, and the cost by 2. I'll get close to these estimates for most new DIY projects. Before I even consider doing a DIY project, I watch videos like yours to see what I'm getting myself into. A few estimates from 'professional' contractors will tell me how much money I'll save doing the project myself. I hope that my comment will be of use to other DIYers.
No not of use, the whole point of DIY is not to outbid contractors or save you money but to know you built and fixed your whole home. âEvery time you fall down you get wiserâ, âitâs not truly yours until you have taken it apart and reassembled itâ and my favorite âChop Wood Carry Waterâ
Thanks for your pleasant reply. I only consider taking on a DIY task while considering the time, effort, and cost I'll need to invest. The number one considersituration is to accept your comfort level. I only start a project if I have the skill level to complete the work. When I realize I do not have the skills and proper tools to complete my project, I seek professional assistance.@@atkgrl
Best self levelling video I've seen on YT yet. Wish this had of been available before I did mine.
This is the best video on the subject of leveling a floor on CZcams. Also very complex project, so you can feel comfortable doing a much smaller job.
Worked in the building industry for 13 years, been out of it for ten. This would have been helpful 23 years ago. Iâm going to use it today on my own house.
Thanks, glad it helped
Yes great job but find out why your own home is sagging so much on a main floor that you would have to use leveling compound FIRST. Fix those beams!
Make sure to check girder/carrying beam and posts supporting floor system. When a floor is sagging an inch where a wall sits on it, it's quite possible something is going on within the support system. Leveling cement and tile adds a bit of weight to an already stressed system and could make the problem worse. Or, the carpenters could have been having a bad day during framing.
As a carpenter, I very much doubt they started with sub floor so bad (out of level), and believe your 1st hunch that floor has dropped and needs to be fixed first as putting this much floor compound is ridiculous.
@@chrisrob7276 nothing is ridiculous when it comes to tract housing! Ive seen plenty of houses that have settled that much and others where the carpenters sucked so bad that thats the way it was framed! Dont get all butt hurt just because he called out your trade! How do you know without looking at it what caused it? Point is it IS out that much and something caused it whether bad carpentry to start with or settling! Prob a combination of the 2 as an inch is a lot out to have left it that way originally! Another reason he should have put lath down before he levelled it as it would add a lot of strength! It would add cost but well worth that cost in my opinion! Too late now! Hopefully it wont sound like walking on crackers after a few months!
@@StonemanRocks I'm not B hurt, just stating a fact that NO QUALIFIED Carpenter would do this. Yes, it's obvious it is out of wack, and my guess it's been caused by possible water leak and ground movement. The main issue tho is my disagreement with the utterly Ridiculous (hack job) solution to flood the floor with massive amount of filler without correcting the issue of unlevel floor. If it has already moved this much, there is something terribly wrong with subfloor and it will only get worse if not fixed and therefore all the tiling on top will also just crack and break in no time
@@chrisrob7276 i misunderstood your text! I agree 100%! Thats going to add a lot of weight to that floor as well! Tile + setting mat. and grout + self leveler! Could be looking at major problems in the future! Pay your money and take your chance I guess! I wouldnt until i fixed the problem first! Apologies for misunderstanding your explanation!
@@chrisrob7276 I disagree with you 100%. Qualified carpenters are like any other group of people: a few winners and a whole lot of losers.
Plenty of qualified are crooked and greedy and cut corners for a bigger pay day.
Maybe you wouldn't perform shoddy work, but plenty do. I know Jesus was a carpenter, but that doesn't make all carpenters Saints.
Accept that you are a diamond in the rough (maybe... Dunning-Kruger could be in effect here) and move on.
I work with dozens of doctors every day. They ALL have PhDs. Every single one. They're all "qualified", but they are like any other group of people: a few winners and whole lot of losers.
Very helpful video! I love the suggestion for putting in screws to mark the necessary depth and then paint the heads white! Also, your solution to covering the HVAC vents was great!
Pure genius the tape method ,Iâve struggled with levelling in the past myself ,Thanks for the knowledge .
I am hoping this goes out to the 197K of people who watched this video and the 5.2K who gave the thumbs up. We may not agree with why he is leveling but he is doing a great job of âSelf Leveling a floor using leveling compoundâ and for that give the guy a $1 Thanks because you cannot read the small print on the bag to get the tricks he has shown nor watch any other CZcams video to see how expertly he does level this floor. A great attention to detail perfectionist job well done and for that $1 Super Thanks is a small gesture.
I have been doing flooring for nearly 40 years and never seen this method for PINNING a floor. Great advice for someone that has leveled prior.
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This is hard labor intensive work! I applaud you for your hard work. I really like how to âpinâ the floor with the screws to understand the depth of the leverer youâll need! Excellent!!! Thank you!!
Good video of how it is done right. Having never poured SLC on a wooden floor I feel confident enough to have a go now. That foam around the perimeter is a good trick too.
I guess it's called "self leveling" because you have to do it yourself! Lol
Good job Sal.
I've learned a lot from you.
You are greatly appreciated đ
Think in terms of placing not leveling it he is getting it close to the pins anticipating the leveling inherent to the product. This process does take some experience and it does not come out perfect.
So true!
Not to mention the amount of work done to tighten the floor/plywood up. Labor intensive. Good job.
I can tell you take alot of pride in your work. Thanks for sharing your process!
Thanks for watching!
Sal, you are the man!!!
The tip for pinning the floor is awesome. Nothing I would of ever thought of on my own. I appreciate all of your experience that you share with us. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
This is an excellent video, I love the tape trick! Thank you for your generosity providing this info.
You are so welcome!
Thanks Sal for another great video - I have been in the business for 40 years and you are one of the few guys I look to for advise cause you know what your doing and I appreciate all your advise - thanks again
I appreciate that!
Fantastic, a fairly complex job simplified step by step. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us all.
Glad it was helpful!
Particularly informative video Sal, many thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thks for your obviously skilled instructions! Have a 30ftx30ft to start leveling process.
Iâm in the middle of doing a Steam Shower job and I still love coming home to see your latest postings!
Donât tell my clients hey Sal?
As always,
great job and great Video đ
đđ
I love tips like this! Iâm getting ready to self level my converted garage and am definitely going to use this trick.
Garage floors should stay slanted...
Might want to get the book âThe Visual Handbook of Building and Remodelingâ. Garage floors are supposed to be slanted itâs a safety factor.
Great tips!! You da man Sal!
Thank you for an excellent video, I learned alot. If I have any success in my project it will be because of this video.
So many DIYers avoid this first step and it costs them more in the long run. Great video mate.
Thanks đ
Love your crafsmanship and thanks for your tips
Glad you like them!
I'm not convinced with that long level on the floor trick... (possible deceptive camera angle shot). Let's give it the real test. Shine a light on the one side of the level and get the camera down on the opposite side to check to see if there is any light coming through under the level! Alright, that may be demanding too much. How about this... if you can slide rice paper between the floor and level, anywhere, it will be declared a terrible job and the mocking will commence! ;D
Great job Sal! You are a true contractor, when you forget to pick up a necessary item for the job, you find a substitute onsite to get the job done!
Hi..Sal...i love you're work..It was very therapeutic watching you do all the work from the couch. Great job đ
Glad you enjoy it!
Love your videos brother thanks for sharing knowledge
Great video.... thanks from Canada
Man I truly appreciate all your videos! Thank you! đđœ
Glad you like them!
I feel like it was so obvious. Excellent teaching style.
Glad you think so!
Awesome work. Was planning to do this. I canât wait to duplicate this.
Nice job, Sal.
Thank you kindly
Fantastic Sal. Great content
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sal, your video is such great quality and better than similar self leveling video. Well done!
Thatâs awesome! Thanks for the lesson.
You have to respect someone who takes craftsmanship seriously. The result speaks for itself. Bravo sir! đđ
Thank you so much đ
Men make money, they fix stuff, they build stuff they have created the world to make it safe for women to walk to a store and get food for their offspring at school learning.
Awesome job sal!
Iâm going to attempt this project tomorrow.
Nice job, turned out great.
Great video Sal!
Thanks for the visit
Awsome work.
Great tip. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Crazy, but this video was very relaxing.
Good content.
Glad you enjoyed it!
That looks like such hard work, let alone filming as you go. THANK YOU! Even if I can't do it myself, I can see what I'm paying for, and that means a lot too. I'm here because it looks like I have asbestos tile squares, over concrete, under the carpet that was pulled up. This is throughout the house, and my contractor wants to pull it all up, to lay the vinyl plank that we bought. The VCT tile is in decent shape, and adhering really well (minus some air bubbles and some ever so slightly lifted corners) despite the fact that it's been there since 1956. I want to encapsulate it, as it would cost a fortune (I assume) to pry off that hazardous material.
The process you are showing may not be the solution for me, but it's fascinating, nonetheless. Maybe something similar would work for our situation.
I salute you for amazing work, and sharing this with all of us.
Donât do it! Someone will tell someone else then you will have a HAZWASTE Nightmare! going on and the city will close you down because someone will tell. Just cover it up, which is why they make â paneling sheets tack it down and put your laminate over the top of that. If you start on those tiles then you will have to get some glue remover and even then you will be buying the 4x8 4x12 sheets to cover it up before your padding goes down under your laminate.
It's a $10,000/day federal fine for disturbing asbestos without the proper license. Plus, left undisturbed, asbestos is a great material. There's a reason asbestos roofing shingles are still around today.
Unless the asbestos is failing poor causing a problem worthy of such an expense, it would be wise to keep it in place even if money were no issue
Dang I wish you posted this video a few months ago. Self leveling on a 8 x 24 room wasn't as easy as I thought it would be...thanks for the info n tips sharing
Thanks for watching my video.
You can be "stupid" and be president of US, but you can not be stupid and do a great Tile installation ! Thank's Sal.
Thanks for watching my video.
Dont comment much but just wanted to say, ive seen a lot of diy videos, but this is one you should likely not tackle if youre not 100000% confident! Hire a pro in that case! Thanks for sharing
Goes without say, if in doubt, hire someone that knows how to do it.
Sal can't say enough great things about all you do. Another perfect video demonstration for your already incredible channel. Hope your week has been great and not tooo stressful
Wow, thank you!
Finally Sal shows how self leveling really dose not self level unless you know your elevation and depths! My first experience with these products I started with a hump and ended with a hump in the floor. All because I followed the directions on the bag. They never mentioned to established a control. I did a job on second floor of a home and dammed everything off but the leveler found a path and made it to the kitchen, kitchen cabinets, stove and basement. Be careful!
I have used roof nails in the past painted orange set with a level. Concrete floors I stretch string lines.
The drill and laser excellent idea.
I prefer ridged 1/4" foam than sill seal.
The gauge rake is a joke!
If subflooring is not tongue and groove you need to address the joints with caulking.
A yard rake can help as well for moving product.
Thank you Sal!
Ya, people think you just pour that stuff on and it's magic. There's still a little work involved.
I just use spray foam, like for insulation, go filling in joint cracks and perimeter.
Sal, first off, thank you for your videos. Theyâve been a huge huge help. My only question is, how many bags of self leveler were being mixed in that mixing drum at a time?
You are amazing excellent work may god blessed you.
Thank you! Cheers!
This is brilliant! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
that's wicked stuff to work with.
Finally a proper video on this ,super ,thank you
Glad you liked it
The only thing I might have done different is place the foam for the expansion joints before pinning the floor. Great video!
Was actually going to do that, but did not have the foam with me at first.
Mastery!
Thank ypu so much !!
amazing presentation, thank you sir!
You are very welcome
You did a great job!...I've been a remodeler for over 30 years, in the philly area, I've only done floor leveling, maybe, ten times...It's an expensive process to make something flatter or less out of level...That area you did, I'd charge 2700.00... Most people say; "I'll just live with it"...People have gotten too persnickety over the last few decades...It's a floor, shut up and walk on it...:)...Good health and happiness to you and yours...
Thanks for watching my video.
Is a perfectly level floor necessary for vinyl plank? Its my first time and have a hump right in the middle of the kitchen floor that would take a huge amount of leveler to make flat
@@redrustyhill2 You'll have to cut out the hump...It's the only choice or FAI (fly as is)
Thanks Sal, we're using shims glued with hot glue instead of screws. Pinning a floor with screws looks like to be faster way of establishing reference elevations đ
Thanks, glad it helped
How did you measure the shims and how much glue and do you pull the glued shims up once the compound starts spreading?
Great instructional video. What was the other leveling rake for?
You save my life amazing job đ new in your channel âșïž
Happy to help
Pretty new looking Nike's to be working in... don't be getting those dirty! Great vid, thanks.
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I love that we call this self leveling. You know what else is self leveling? Water đ
Fantastic job Sal. Ive done so much of this but sadly theres times you just cant achieve what the customer is hoping for especially when transitioning next to those hardwood rooms. You can be creating a "new level spot" to a out of wack slope transition. I always may sure I allow for manipulation of tile by slacking off of the self leveler in these areas. I seen at a couple of your doorways the leveler was almost the same height without tile. I know there is nothing you can do but man those will be huge height transitions. Thanks for all your great content Sal. All the best from Western Canada.
Correct, with tile that big floor has to be flat. Customer was made aware of the problem and accepted that there will be transitions at the doors.
Rocky thatâs when you have a conversation about flat versus level.
Sometimes level results in a high transition.
Sometimes yo7 can lock the laser off level and shim it to get a flat but not level floor with a much smaller transition
Great job đ
Thank you! đ
Great video!
Thanks!
Thank you so much.
đđ
ty great vid, its all about the prep
Thanks for watching my video.
@Wood and resin Designs.c o m please explain why
@Wood and resin Designs.c o m LOL yeah thats funny But i do like the idea of the scerws /drill etc
You have a lot more working time than the stuff I used, but I was only doing a small area about the size of refrigerator and dishwasher footprint.
Great video mate do you run the sbr on top after youâve levelled it
Great video. That's an A+ job. I hope you charge enough for that...
Can you attach bottom plates to a concrete floor that has floor leveler? Pre-drill and tap-cons instead of ramset?
I was hoping someone would do a video like this.
Thanks for watching my video.
For anyone wondering, the smoother Sal is using is the Kraft GG603 (ID'd from video!)
Thanks for your time and help. Quick question did u use a spiked roller for bubbles?
Nice video Sal, makes alot of sense, I noticed you started pouring from the low spot? is that correct? I was always told to start at the high spot and let it run. Also, I'm doing a hardwood floor, glue down, was wondering if this is a good application for that as well?
You're AWESOME Sal!! Do you use the uncoupling membrain with this job?
I wonder why its important to pour into the wet. Great video!
Would it be bad for the subfloor gaps required for contraction and expansion that now its covered with self leveling concrete ? Would it be better if you just do it on selected low areas only and use handheld planer for high spots?
Good Morning Sal,
Hoping for assistance. I have a 12' x 24' sun-room that we plan on installing 24x24 tile with Ditra-Duo Heat. It is an addition that was added on over a patio. It is well made, supported by the house, and a 4âx8â I-beam. The last 42â hang over past the I-beam. The floor is flat, but not level. It slopes away from the house. It is a 1.5â drop in the 12 feet. So the need for self leveling is evident. It has 3/8â plywood over 5/8â plywood sub-floor, all in excellent shape.
Here is my dilemma. If the self-leveler has a min thickness of 1/4â I will be adding 1.75â of concrete to the low end, which is a lot in terms of material and dollars, plus it may interfere with a patio door at that height. Because the floor is 12x24 the plywood is laid in 3 rows of 3 sheets. My thought is to remove the first row of 3/8â plywood (leaving the 5/8â) and screwing it down over the low end. That would lower my high point by 3/8â and raise my low point by 3/8â. It would give me my 1/4â minimum self-lever thickness without raising the level of the floor too much, and make my overall fall 3/4â instead of 1.5â.
Thoughts, and what am I missing?
Thanks
Mark
Great video, I'm about to tackle this project myself.. I have a very similar layout and subfloor that is way out like the one in this video. Curious how many bags of leveling compound did you end up using on this floor?
Spray foam works really well to for daming the self leveler. A little more clean up the next day but less work in the long run
Thanks for watching my video.
@@SalDiBlasi hey thanks for putting them up i get alot of great information from them and appreciate the time you take to put them up for us
Thanks!
Thanks đđ
Should I caulk the joints within the plywood subfloor to avoid anything leaking through to the ceiling below?
Great video thanks for sharing, Iâm a DYI Iâm going to install marble tile in my kitchen, I have to use self leveling on plywood but Iâm also adding an extra layer of plywood to reinforce the floor because of the weight of the marble tiles, quick question,? Do I add the self leveling before or after adding the extra layer of plywood ? Also I bought Schluter all set Thin set, will that thin set work to install the Schluter membrane on top of the self leveling ? or do I need to get unmodified thin set ?because technically I will be installing the the Schluter membrane on the layer of self leveling rather than on plywood? I hope I explain my correct. Thanks
Wow brilliant. What can i do with concrete basement?
Glad I stumbled upon this video. The foam and caulk is a great idea and will be using that on my 8x3 half bathroom I'm currently remodeling. The pin method wouldn't work on concrete. How would you go about that scenario?
It a actually does work on concrete also. I masonry drill all the holes first then knock in wall plugs . Doesnât take long and makes it easy to level any floor
Appreciate it. The area outside the boundary - i.e. of the door opening - the other room floor will be lower than the floor of this room? Will there now be a lip as well? If so, how do you deal with that? Thanks - PS your someone at Mapei recommended that I watch your video.đ
Sal you are an encyclopedia.. Hands down.. what ever i search in youtube with respect to remodelling and tiles, i will eventually land here.. can u pls advise the laser that you are using... appreciate if you can give me the link.
could you use this product to put on sub floor to fill in cracks and gaps on floor. to have it even and smooth sub floor ?