Self Leveling concrete – Its 8 Outstanding Advantages

Whenever you need to repair, smooth and rise a floor, the self leveling concrete is a fast way for it and is an effective cost solution to the problem.

Self-leveling concrete is a cementitious mixture. It is easier and much faster and the product is mixed with water and pumped into place and spread with gauge rake. It continues to flow evenly and levels itself out once it spread out. It may set up smooth and flat within 1 to 2 hours as depending on the product and it may be completely hardened and ready for use in about 6 hours.

The self-leveling concrete is used as an underlayment for tile, floor covering or carpets. It can be poured as thick as an inch if the floor has low spots and needs to be smoothed. It can be a half without the addition of aggregates and 5 inches with the addition of aggregates.

With radiant heating installation self-leveling concrete works especially well because around the tubing, it can easily flow. To achieve a proper finish the thicker floor leveling compounds must be toweled.

Properties Of Self Leveling Concrete:

There are the following properties of self-leveling concrete:

1. Low plastic viscosity
2. Low bleeding
3. High flowability
4. Low segregation
5. stability

Main Materials Used In Self Leveling Concrete:

There are two main groups of materials in self-leveling concrete:

Underlayment:

The underlayment is installed over an existing subfloor to smooth it out and to correct any surface irregularities to the installation of all types of floor coverings including sheet, carpet, tile, and wood.

Toppings:

Topping performs a similar function as underlayment but acts as the actual finished floor covering.

Some applications for topping warehouse floor, light industrial applications, institutional facilities, and retail stores. To produce a decorative concrete finished wear surface concrete toppings can also receive color dyes, stain, and mechanical polishing.

Preparing To Use Self Leveling Concrete:

There is an essential consideration you need to know that moisture in the existing concrete floor. It may cause the leveling compound to degrade over time if the moisture level is too high. You need to test the slab to be sure that the moisture level is not too high.

Moisture deep in the slab can migrate to the surface over time and cause serious problems. You need to take steps to remediate it before you can pour your new floor if the moisture level deep in the slab is too high.

The way moves in a concrete slab has been studied and the researcher has developed a scientifically proven test for measuring moisture level deep inside the slab that test is called ‘the relative humidity test using in situ probes’.

Tools For Self Leveling Concrete:

1. Broom, mop and shop vacuum
2. Mixing bucket as large as you need
3. Mixing head & mixing drill
4. Gauge rake
5. Plastic sheet
6. Cleats and silicone caulk
7. Primer & leveling product.

Uses Of Self Leveling Concrete:

There are following uses of self-leveling concrete such as;

1. Upgrading your old cracked and damaged floor
2. Installing a radiant heating system in the floor
3. To match the floor to the floor in the adjoining room
4. Finishing the basement where the floor is rough
5. Warehouse floors
6. Light industrial application
7. Retail stores & institutional facilities.

Advantages

1. Less labor required
2. Obtains leveled and smooth surface
3. Water-resistance surface
4. Resist growth of microorganisms
5. Ease of application
6. The best choice of heavily reinforced construction
7. Compressive strength
8. Resist bleeding and segregation issues.

Read Also:

1. What is concrete?
2. what is the beam?