SLC advice

[cornish_crofter]

Just some advice please guys. following on from my previous thread

I've reset all my markers on the floor. I used screws not packers. To try and make the job easier tomorrow I poured and levelled one bag of SLC to sort out the area that wasn't covered last time, and I intend to level out as best as possible what is left tomorrow.

I didn't do it all in one hit as I reckoned I would have had all the SLC trying to run down into the low spot but settling everywhere I didn't want to. I reckon I've now got the floor down to around 4mm variation all over. The area is 9.1m squared.

Although I was going to go for a minimum of 3mm all over I want to try to just bring it up to the highest point if I can - I really don't want to bring the floor level up too much if I can.

I don't have access to a roller but this evening I managed to use a floor scraper to try and move it around. I'll have to see how it's looking in the morning.

I'm hoping just to use some SLC to 'fill the low points' to get a level. Don't mind a few small crevases - that's what tile adhesive and a derby is for :smilewinkgrin:

 

[doug boardley]

it's hard to describe how to do it effectively Hugo, I set up screws drilled into the substrate as markers, a bit like the peeps that reconstruct faces from ancient skulls, and then work my slc up to these points. Sometimes you have to push and pull your slc to break the surface tension and get an even distribution. I guess it's down to experience and geting a "feel" to know when it's right.

 

[cornish_crofter]

That's pretty much what I've done Doug. Set a centre screw in position and spanned out from that with a 6 ft level so they are all the same height.

one or two screws are virtually level with the hight points of the surface as it stands - the rest are up to 4mm above. So that's how I know the SLC varies by up to 4mm or so.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[doug boardley]

I was using the weber slc yesterday and today Hugo and I was a bit sceptical about the 50mm one hit, I expected a bit of settling slump tbh, but it didn't slump at all, was well impressed.

 

[Gazzer]

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[cornish_crofter]

I was using the weber slc yesterday and today Hugo and I was a bit sceptical about the 50mm one hit, I expected a bit of settling slump tbh, but it didn't slump at all, was well impressed.

How did you achieve that Doug?

 

[doug boardley]

basically Hugo, the deepest parts were from my starting point, ie away from the door, so I was troweling it back to where i started from and letting it work it's magic, wont be back there till mid week but I'll post some pics with my level on it

 

[cornish_crofter]

basically Hugo, the deepest parts were from my starting point, ie away from the door, so I was troweling it back to where i started from and letting it work it's magic, wont be back there till mid week but I'll post some pics with my level on it

Don't do that Doug, because it'll be perfect and I'll be making mine up with tile adhesive :lol:

So the deepest parts were 50mm and you just worked away from that then.

The problem I had when I tried to do the 10mm level was that it just ran towards me. I tried to push it back but it just kept running forwards. There was no way it was going to work.

However, this evening, like you I backfilled the deepest part (the bid that didn't get filled last time) It took 10mm or so easily as there was no where for it to go apart from cover the lowest point. Is this how you achieved it?

 

[doug boardley]

only reason I gave it another topping today Hugo was because it was a garage that had been converted into a fitness and utility area, I'd reformed the floor where the car pit was but hadn't successfully dammed it, so the slc was weeping into the pit causing depressions in the surroundng areas. I decided to leave it yesterday so that the surrounding slc would seal the gaps and it did, so I just went back today to top it all up.

 

[cornish_crofter]

Anyway, I've only got about 4mm at the most to make up. In a couple of areas I've got nothing to make up. One of the biggest areas to make up is in a far corner so I'll probably mix a full load but only pour half of it to start with and spread that over the tops of the screws, spreading it around so it just sits level with the screws.

Then work my way back around a high point and do the same in the next area.

 

[cornish_crofter]

only reason I gave it another topping today Hugo was because it was a garage that had been converted into a fitness and utility area, I'd reformed the floor where the car pit was but hadn't successfully dammed it, so the slc was weeping into the pit causing depressions in the surroundng areas. I decided to leave it yesterday so that the surrounding slc would seal the gaps and it did, so I just went back today to top it all up.

I know it does eventually stop seeping out as it sets quite quickly.

I am just trying to understand whether you got it to behave a bit like a screed and get the 50mm all in one go. If I had my time again I would have set battens at 10mm high from the mid point but level and filled the bays. I've got some lengths of door stop that would have achieved this.

 

[quackfly]

dont worry about it mate, i had a day like yours on thursday. spent ages trying to work with some slc that just wouldnt behave, ended up looking like crap but like you the only solution is to cover with another thin coat to finish off. its all a learning curve which costs us time and profit. Dont fret in getting ur finish perfect th the mil , a good thick bed of addy and frequent checks with ur level will get u out of trouble! look at this way, next time u put slc down everything will run much smoother, pardon the pun! always remember the human factor in everything u do. We're problem solvers and when the print on a bag of product doesnt do what it says it will its time to switch to our own grey matter, you're not alone in dramas we al get them!

 

[cornish_crofter]

dont worry about it mate, i had a day like yours on thursday. spent ages trying to work with some slc that just wouldnt behave, ended up looking like crap but like you the only solution is to cover with another thin coat to finish off. its all a learning curve which costs us time and profit. Dont fret in getting ur finish perfect th the mil , a good thick bed of addy and frequent checks with ur level will get u out of trouble! look at this way, next time u put slc down everything will run much smoother, pardon the pun! always remember the human factor in everything u do. We're problem solvers and when the print on a bag of product doesnt do what it says it will its time to switch to our own grey matter, you're not alone in dramas we al get them!

Thanks for that. I'm not the only person who has problems then :lol:. I'm about to do pretty much what you did.

 

[DavieA]

What was the tool the installers were using to measure the changes in floor level and are screws the best method of marking the depth req?