What product to use for leveling subfloor without using self-leveler
Hello – wondering if someone can help here. I’m a little confused regarding what product to skim level (not sure if that’s the correct term) my bathroom floor. i want the floor to be level (not only flat) b/c i’ll be using a schluter shower pan and that requires a level floor. i’ll then be installing mosaic tile on the shower floor and probably nothing bigger than 12×12 on the rest of the bathroom floor.
I’ve put in the subfloor using advantech. Unfortunately, there are two many areas so that if I would use a self-leveler, it would not be contained and would go to the level below. The floor is not too far out of level but has some dips in it that are up to, at most, 1/4″.
I’ve researched this and it appears that planipatch is often used for patching small areas. what concerns me with using this product is the following:
1. the amount of time to use the planipatch before it becomes hardened.
2. the runniness of this, which i’m assuming would make this more difficult to screed.
3. what consistency it should be mixed to. that’s difficult to find from their instructions.
I noticed another article where it uses Kerabond mortar with Keralastic latex additive. This would give more time and seems, to me, to be a little firmer to allow better screeding. Here is the article:
https://www.oneprojectcloser.com/how-to-even-a-floor-in-preparation-for-tile/
Could I used these products instead of the planipatch? If so, I did find the kerabond mortar difficult to find so is there something specific I should look for when going through Lowes or Homedepot?
Thank you.
Replies
agree with the last one.
do you mean the kerabond mortar as described in the link?
Use Henry Feather Finish #549, available at L's and HD.
https://www.wwhenry.com/product/henry-549-featherfinish/
Do it in 2 lifts. 1st - Press/ key mix into the valleys with a notched trowel to bond to Advantech and then use a screed to cut off the over-fill. 2nd - Skimcoat. Done. Dries in 20 mins. Make small batches. 2 cups of powder/ batch. Very easy.
I mix each batch in a quart plastic container using this mixer. Should be available at your local masonry supplier.
https://www.zoro.com/bon-tool-mud-and-resin-mixer-stainless-steel-2-58-diameter-10-14-shaft-15-180/i/G1915156/
Frankie
Thanks Frankie for your reply. I've given the 549 a try. Unfortunately, I do not have the skill level to use this well. I found it too wet (when mixed with the right ratio) to hold any shape when screeding. I then added a couple extra cups of the 549 to the water (which made 3 cups water and 8 cups 549) and i still didn't find i was able to use it.
I'm sure this has much more (probably all) to do with my skills (having never done this before) but i found that it was kind of like a cake frosting, where it would have some peaks when you lifted up the screed.
Today was the second time I tried it. What I decided to do was drill screws in the floor to the height that would be level with the highest spot in the bathroom floor. Then I tried to create several lines in the bathroom that would be level with each other. Then I would wait for them to dry and be able to screed between the lines. This did not go well at all as I couldn't make a flat line that would hold its shape. I ended up scraping off what i laid down and then tossing it.
No damage done to the floor and at least now I've learned what DOESN'T work for me, at least yet.
Thanks though for the tip. If I do end up going with the self-leveler, I'll be using the 542, which requires the 549 anyway to fill in any gaps.