Self-leveling is one of the most important factors that goes into prepping a floor for change. If you notice your floors need some help, for example cracking, various elevations, or is just uneven or sunken, then this is the solution for you. They are long lasting and low maintenance compared to other types of floors, while easily withstanding heavy foot traffic.
The most common reason uneven floors occur, is due to moisture issues in the subfloors. If you notice your floors are swelling up, leaving the other parts sloppy and looking uneven, it is most likely moisture. Another reason could be that the concrete is just prone to cracking. This may not happen as often, but when it does, it can lead to uneven floor surfaces. Before deciding on changing your floors, make sure to check for drips, cracks, chipping, holes, and unevenness this is when self-leveling will come into play to fix all these issues before installing new floors to guarantee a flat and smooth surface to work with.
We use self-lever to create a smooth flat surface with a high compressive strength, self-leveling concrete is a polymer-modified cement that doesn’t need large volumes of water for placement. It can be installed over concrete, ceramic tile, VCT, wood, or plywood or any non-flexible surface pre-existing on your floors. It is poured onto the floors in a liquid form and goes down to ¼ to 1.5 inches thick in a single pass. A gauging tool will be used to spread the liquids into place. Some qualities of using self-leveling include smoothness, flatness, and a compressive strength over traditional concrete floor. After it is applied, you can add decorative overlays, stains or dyes, or brand-new floors in general.
To prepare a floor for self-leveling, first remove all loose materials and clean all surfaces beforehand. The floors must be completely cured and free of moisture to prevent the floors from cracking and unevenness again. Self-leveling dries in minutes due to its thin consistency so this process can be completed quickly. These new polymer-modified cement overlays can be used as a unique flooring option if you are trying to stay away from traditional cements. It cures fast, while requiring minimum labor and creating ready floors within an hour.
Self- leveling overlays are one of the newest trends for architects and commercial property owners. It is quick to install and can be installed pre or post construction. It can cover almost any pre-existing floors, is flood proof and hypoallergenic. If you are thinking about self-leveling your floors, they’re a ton of advantages to this technology!
Call HTC Commercial for your next commercial flooring project, 708-942-5800.