Self Leveling Concrete

Self leveling concrete is a recent concrete technology that can eliminate the need of having to grind an existing floor to repair it.

Floor leveler allows you to refinish a floor that has become flawed from traffic, weather, or structural movements.

Often referred to as a self-leveling concrete overlay, or a as a floor resurfacer, self-leveling concrete combines properties of concrete with a polymer to create a unique application that can be overlaid on an existing floor that is in need of repair.

There is no type of flooring surface that this overlay will not adhere to with proper prepping.

Please Note: The key to using floor leveler successfully is in the prep work.

Depending on the type of floor you are covering, cement or wood, the area should be cleaned and scrubbed with a floor machine.

Additionally, any large holes should be patched because you do not want to lose your self-leveling concrete through a hole that you really want to fill.

Although polymer concrete may sound like a new idea to you, it has actually been around for over seventy years.

Polymerization was first developed in the 1940's as a protecting agent against harsh weather conditions on ships' decks and bridges.

Polymers are nothing more than simple organic molecules (monomers) that form a more complex structure when added to water or certain powders.

That process, known as polymerization, is a perfect fit when added to hydraulic cement under the right guidelines. The consistency of the self-leveling concrete is much thinner and smoother that regular concrete or mortar.

The recommended measurement for mixing your overlay is simple and only requires one special tool that attaches to your power drill for stirring.

Pouring the self leveling concrete might remind you of a hard rainfall...

...the watery mix immediately locates the dips and non-level areas of the surface - much like rainwater finding uneven spots in your driveway and creating a mud puddle.

Since the polymer-modified topping has a smooth and silky appearance, many people incorporate decorative inlays to form an artistic look to a newly laid floor.

Adhering strips of wood or metal to the base and then pouring the self-leveling concrete right up to the edges can potentially create a great-looking floor designer floor with minimal effort and complication.

Other attractive ideas are using a canvas for an engraved design or mixing colors to pour into beautiful designs.

There are other flooring repairs that self-leveling concrete can tackle.

Using an underlayment to even out a floor before topping with tile or carpet is an excellent way to repair a floor's buckled surface instead of using plywood.

Since wood is not a good match for moisture and a floor cannot be protected from leaks not to mention further settling of a home.

However, an underlining made of self-leveling concrete will breathe with your structure- maintaining a nice base for whatever type of flooring material you might choose.

There are several advantages to self leveling concrete, as presented by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

The bonding properties of adding polymers to concrete cause an increased bond strength, especially when overlaying on existing concrete.

Concrete with polymers has a freezing and thawing resistance that is perfect for northern climates where damage to concrete is quite common.

Reduced permeability, elastic modulus, flexural strengths and abrasion resistance are other benefits that have been found through industrial testing.

When selecting an appropriate self-leveling concrete product for your floor, keep in mind that with any new mixture that hits the market, there can be differences in the make-up of the ingredients and the chemical balance.

While most companies do their homework and are qualified in the properties of concrete when used with polymers, there will always be some that are not.

If you intend to have a contractor take care of your self leveling floor, a good idea would be to do some due diligence and investigate the quality of floors done previously by the company.

Most self leveling concrete mixes are guaranteed when placed within the specifications provided by the manufacturer.


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