Self levelling - not

[The Medway Handyman]

Put some self levelling floor compound

down yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is used as a utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x 2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as directed. let it dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only used the recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing paddle on an SDS, mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious experience when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really quickly rather than flowing. According to the pack it was supposed to be workable for 20 mins, but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at all - the surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its going to have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth, doesn't care about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone had any ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very hot - mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm guessing that this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, & switching off underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also specifically mentioned not to add any more water when mixing.

[Bill Taylor]

Had a similar problem last year. Started off with bags from Wickes which didn't flow very well and went off quickly. Didn't have enough so I bought a couple of bags from TP which worked as you'ld expect.

I rather think that the Wickes ones were old while the TP ones were fresh, so it may go off with age, like plaster.

Bill

[Tim S]

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

I don't know about the Wickes stuff, but having been pointed to F Ball Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in similar cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90 minutes.

18-ish quid a bag and York Flooring Supplies sell it along with the P131 neoprene primer that you apply before it.

You could probably use SG 300 over the top of what you have.

Cheers

Tim

[Stuart Noble]

I regard manufacturers' explicit instructions as a rough guide. Adding a little more water in hot weather isn't going to stop it working.

[PCPaul]

Last time I used any was to level a new concrete floor up to a dwarf wall in a conservatory. The stuff I used 'flowed like water' - right into the cracks between the concrete and the brickwork :-(

[The Medway Handyman]

I rang Wickes today & guess what? Master Latex Floor Levelling Compound is made by F Ball & they suggested Stopgap Greenbag 128. They have a dealer just around the corner, so I'm going to ask their advice.

[The Medway Handyman]

Did it flow like the stuff in this video Tim?

didn't :-(

[Tim S]

PCPaul coughed up some electrons that declared:

There is that.

The first time I used it - I made a little wood "dam" to block an opening that was lower. Thought I had it sussed - only a mm or two gap under the wood. Bloody SG300 went straight under it!

[Tim S]

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

Better than that - but I made it up with 5.75l of water (that maximum according to the data sheet).

The stuff in the video looks like it was probably done with the basic 5l water - mine moved much quicker.

That green stuff is the P131 primer - I think that helps a lot. It's water resistant (no suckage) *and* slighty tacky even when dry and seems to help the bond.

[Tim S]

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

Aha. I don;t know the "green bag" stuff. But

do have some very informative datasheets.

I think Wickes rather overdo the "own brand" idea...

[The Medway Handyman]

Bloody hell! Nothing like the stuff I used - I'm going to check the batch codes, I reckon it might have been old stock.

Cheers