Have I made a massive mistake? (levelling a concrete floor)

Small unit owner · Apr 13, 2008 3:53 pm

Hi everyone,

I've hunted down this forum to ask a question about something I have just done, and to find out if I've just made a costly mistake. Any advice you could offer would be very much appreciated!

I own a small unit and I wanted to replace some very old vinyl floor covering in the kitchen with some newer lino or vinyl tiles (we were considering 'Knight Tiles', if you have any opinion on those too, I'd like to hear!). I need to level the surface and build it up so it would match the floor in the next room. So I pulled up the old stuff, prepared the surface, put some quick-dry leveling compound on it. Then I was planning to use some tile underlay sheet (fibro cement style sheet) on top.

My father had the bright idea of putting the underlay sheeting down on the floor while the leveler was still wet, which would stick it down and save me time and effort. But then I was told it would lift and cause problems, so I didn't put the lino down and I've waited to see what will happen. It's now almost a week since I did it, and I have noticed a couple of spots near the edge of each sheet of underlay that sound hollow when I knock them. It doesn't dip when I push on it, but the sound makes it seem like it is lifting slightly at the edges.

Could I just fasten the edges down with some masonry nails? Should I rip the whole thing up and start again?

Any advice would be great, as I'm a bit worried about it and I'm at a loss for what to do
cheers
Michael

Michelle · Apr 13, 2008 4:05 pm

In my experience with the 'Knight Tiles'…..GOOD CHOICE by the way, they are excellent and very strong!

All you needed to do was put the levelling compound down. Make sure it is very level.

Then lay the 'Knight Tiles' on that! If it is not to much bother for you I would take up the sheets.

Michelle · Apr 13, 2008 4:33 pm

By the way Michael, I used to sell this flooring. :wink:

Small unit owner · Apr 13, 2008 5:35 pm

Thanks for your advice Michelle. So the sheets should definitely come up then, ah well. An expensive learning experience.

Also, good to know the knight tiles are a reasonable choice.

I wanted to build up the floor a little, to match the floor in the living room. Do you think I should re-try some underlay sheets (gluing this time), build it up with more leveling compound, or just live with a small step-down between the two floors?

Thanks again
Michael

Michelle · Apr 13, 2008 5:50 pm

If you’re confident to do more levelling compound, then build it up.
But will this make the floor in the kitchen too high against your kitchen cupboard kick boards?

Small unit owner · Apr 13, 2008 7:00 pm

OK, I might build it up some more with more leveling compound, just a few more mm. I don't think it will cause a problem with the kickboards. Our next project will be new kitchen cabinets anyway (maybe later in the year when we have some more $$$).

Thanks for the advice Michelle

Michelle · Apr 13, 2008 7:05 pm

My Pleasure!

HF123 · Apr 17, 2008 5:23 pm

It seems you have been given some poor advise. I'm presuming you have a concrete sub floor. I'll list the steps that should have been taken below.

1/ Remove the existing floor coverings
2/ Grind, scrape or sand the residual adhesive to give a clean sub floor (grinding is the preferred method)
3/ Check the sub floor for structural integrity. Seeing that you have found it necessary to level the floor there must be some issues here.
4/ Prime the floor with Ardex 51 primer diluted to suit
5/ Levelled the floor with Ardex K15 self levelling underlayment
6/ Install the new coverings as per the manufactures recommendations.

It might seem to be a waste but you should remove what ever you have put on the floor and start again. If it is drummy now it will never get any better. The floor needs to be sound and finished to a standard that would be good enough to accept paint.

royalblue · Apr 17, 2008 5:41 pm

HF123

Sounds like very sound advice there!

Can I inquire what you area of professional experience is? Always good to have someone here, that can cut to the chase, and give clear direction!

Cheers!

Ash.

HF123 · Apr 17, 2008 6:03 pm

I have been involved with floors and floor coverings for the past 22 years. I currently run a retail business specialising in better end domestic and commercial floor coverings. I'm not here to promote what I sell, I just thought that there might be a few questions I may be able to help with

royalblue · Apr 17, 2008 6:05 pm

HF123

specialising in better end domestic and commercial floor coverings.

....... like Tascott/Ulster carpets for example?

Ash.

HF123 · Apr 17, 2008 6:23 pm

Yes, Tascot

Michelle · Apr 17, 2008 6:27 pm

HF123

I have been involved with floors and floor coverings for the past 22 years. I currently run a retail business specialising in better end domestic and commercial floor coverings. I'm not here to promote what I sell, I just thought that there might be a few questions I may be able to help with

That’s great!

Ash is fantastic with carpets, but it will be good to have expert advice on other flooring as well!!

Welcome to the forum!

'chelle · Apr 17, 2008 6:37 pm

And someone from my neck of the woods....yay

Small unit owner · May 09, 2008 4:39 pm

Hi again. Sorry for not responding sooner, I didn't check in lately.

I didn't explain myself very carefully in my initial comment.

HF123

It seems you have been given some poor advise. I'm presuming you have a concrete sub floor. I'll list the steps that should have been taken below.

1/ Remove the existing floor coverings
2/ Grind, scrape or sand the residual adhesive to give a clean sub floor (grinding is the preferred method)
3/ Check the sub floor for structural integrity. Seeing that you have found it necessary to level the floor there must be some issues here.
4/ Prime the floor with Ardex 51 primer diluted to suit
5/ Levelled the floor with Ardex K15 self levelling underlayment
6/ Install the new coverings as per the manufactures recommendations.

It might seem to be a waste but you should remove what ever you have put on the floor and start again. If it is drummy now it will never get any better. The floor needs to be sound and finished to a standard that would be good enough to accept paint.

I actually did do all steps 1-6 exactly as you suggest, that was all fine. Where I went wrong was I put fibro-cement sheets down directly onto the wet levelling compound (to make the floor 6 mm higher). That caused a problem since (I think) the cement absorbed some moisture from the wet leveling compound and warped.

But I have now removed the warped and drummy cement sheets and the levelling compound underneath was mostly fine. I put some more leveler on to neaten it up, then put the new floor down. It all ended up OK, so thanks everyone for the advice.

Michelle · May 09, 2008 7:24 pm

Very good!!!
Glade it all worked out for you.