Pro tip: Overestimated a basement flooring job by about 6 hours last week

I got talked into trying that new self-leveling concrete compound for a small 10x10 room. The guy at the hardware store said it would take maybe 2 hours to pour and set. Six hours later I was still kneeling there trying to pop air bubbles with a stick and the stuff was thickening up like cold oatmeal. By the time I got it spread it had these little ridges I couldn't fix. Ended up grinding it down the next day which took another 3 hours. So much for saving time with the magic mix. Has anyone else had this stuff not level out like they said it would?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthewmiller3d ago

You really have to babysit that stuff the whole time, huh? I used to think it was all hype but now I get why people warn about it.

-1

simonk983d ago

I dunno man, I feel like people exaggerate how bad it is. If you just set it and forget it a little, you'll be fine. Whats the worst that could happen, a little overflow?

charles7202d agoTop Commenter

Simon, have you actually dealt with the overflow cleanup yourself? Because "a little overflow" means scrubbing mineral deposits out of tiny cracks with a toothbrush for hours, not just wiping up a puddle. The real problem is it never happens when you're standing right there - it's always when you're asleep or at work, and then you come back to a inch of water on the floor. Between the mess and the potential for warping the wood cabinets underneath, it's not something I'd call fine. What kind of system are you running where you feel that relaxed about it?