Leveling a Concrete Floor before Tiling

Tiles are comparatively durable floor coverings that can last for many years when laid on a flat substrate. However, if a tile floor is laid on the sub floor that is not perfectly level then the tiles can develop cracks. Because the concrete floor surfaces often have small hills and dips, they must be leveled properly before installing tiles. Using a self-leveling floor compound will make ensure that the concrete floor is totally flat before you lay the tiles on it.

·         In the first step, check the flatness of the concrete floor with a level. Lay the level in several areas on the concrete to locate the areas that require the most leveling. The self-leveling compounds are made to look for highs and lows on the floors, locating where the lowest places are,then start pouring the compound in these located areas, confirming that they get filled.

·         After this, vacuum the concrete floor well and remove all the debris and dust that may be present on the floor. Anything on the concrete floor, involving dust, can slow down the progress of the self-leveling floor compound.

·         Then put on a dust mask and Mix the compound according to the instructions of the manufacturer and hold the container near the lowest regions on the floor. Start pouring the compound slowly onto the concrete. The compound will start to spread over the floor, filling in the low zones and leveling out the floor. Automatically,it will search for the high and low regions of the floor. You only require to make sure that you pour enough compound to cover the whole floor.

·         Allow the compound to settle onto the concrete floor. Once it's poured, you don't have to smooth it. Let the compound to completely dry before laying the tile for at least 24 hours.