Why should you level a floor?
✔ Eliminate unevenness on a surface;
✔ Such as: joints, glue residues and rough subfloors
✔ Essential for an even end result
Supplies
Floor System
✔ Primer
✔ Equalizer
Preparation of substrate
✔ Sander or angle grinder with diamond bowl
✔ Construction vacuum cleaner
✔ Tape
Application of coatings and primer
✔ Gloves (1 pair per layer)
60L bucket or mortar tub (for making levelling compound)
✔ Mixing bucket (1 per layer)
✔ Mixing rod
✔ Drill or mixer
✔ Brush (1 per layer)
Nylon roller for epoxy primer
✔ S moothing trowel and/or tooth trowel
✔ Roll bar
✔ Optional: denim shoes leave a minimal imprint.
We recommend applying the coating with 2 people.
Preparation
Before you get started with applying living concrete, you need to make the following preparations:
Check the packaging
The primer and equalizer consist of 1 component. Read through the text on the can and check the item number to see if the name matches the contents.
Check the substrate
Before you begin, the substrate must meet the following 4 conditions:
1. The subfloor must be (chemically) cured
For every inch that a new subfloor is thick, you should count 1 week of drying time.
2. The subfloor must be dry
The maximum moisture content depends on the type of substrate:
✔ Concrete: <4%
✔ Sand Cement: <2.5%
✔ Gypsum-bound: <0.5%
You can promote the drying process of an anhydrite subfloor by sanding off the andhydrite skin.
Do you have an underfloor heating system? Then follow the stoking protocol.
3. The subfloor must be level
Damage to the subfloor should be repaired and paint and glue residues sanded away. We recommend the following products for this purpose:
Small cracks and unevenness: epoxy putty
Larger holes: epoxy repair mortar
Openings along skirting boards, sills and heating pipes: acrylic sealant
4. The substrate must be clean and grease-free
In order for the living concrete to adhere, the substrate must be grease-free.
✔ Grease and oil spots: sprinkle cat litter on these. These suck up the fat.
✔ Stubborn stains: use POWER cleaner and/or ammonia.
✔ Dust and dirt: with a vacuum cleaner and a soft broom, make the floor dust-free.
✔ Cement slurry: the substrate may still have a so-called cement slurry. Remove these with a diamond sander.
Conditions for the environment
The conditions in which you process the living concrete must be optimal in connection with the shelf life and reaction of the materials. Therefore, please consider the following:
The right temperature:
✔ Minimum: 15 °C
✔ Maximum: 30 °C
✔ Optimum: 20 °C
Proper humidity:
✔ About 80%
Set up a separate workspace
Create a separate work area, preferably outside the space where you will be applying living concrete. Cover the floor with a tarp or stucco pad so you can work cleanly. This is to prevent you from spilling loose components onto the subfloor.
Tape everything
Are there walls, table legs or other objects that should not have living concrete on them? Then tape these off.
Divide the space
Make a plan of action and divide the space in your mind according to the amount of material in the cans. In fact, the content is suitable for a limited number of square meters. That way you know how thick to apply the equalizer.
Get everything ready
Have you checked off the checklist? Prepare all materials and tools. Are you working with two people? Then divide the tasks.
Levelling a floor
Drying time*:
You can apply the next coat after 18 hours and within 36 hours.
Is it later than 36 hours? Then sand the floor in between.
*For exact drying time, refer to the product data sheet.
Total time:
Count 1 layer per day.
Roadmap
Day 1: Apply the primer layer
1. Mix the primer by shaking the canister.
2. Transfer everything to a clean bucket.
3. Start by applying the primer coat at the edges. Do this with a brush or small roller.
4. Pour the primer in strips and then roll it out.
6. Next coat: after 18 hours and within 36 hours.
NB! Check the processing time of the products before you get started with this!
Day 2: applying the epoxy cast floor
7. Check the product data sheet for additional instructions.
✔ 8. Put the required amount of water in a large bucket or mortar tub.
9. While mixing (with a mixing rod), add the equalizer to this.
10. Mix until smooth.
Section 11. Pour the leveling compound onto the subfloor and spread with a leveling trowel or leveling rake.
For processing a large area, we recommend taking into account dilation joints that exist in the subfloor. Therefore, always apply a separation joint every fifty square meters.
Curing
Allow equalizer to dry for at least 72 hours. Do you have underfloor heating? Then first perform the firing protocol.
Our floor systems
After leveling, you can apply a flooring system of your choice:
PU Cast Floor: a comfortable and stylish floor for your home.
Epoxy flooring: a rock solid floor, perfect for an industrial environment.
Floor coating: a hard-wearing and low-maintenance floor.
Residential concrete: the look of a concrete floor, the benefits of residential concrete
Trowel floor: a seamless floor, suitable for workshops and stables.
Maintenance
Go to the Epoxywinkel.com website for complete cleaning advice. You can also order special cleaning products from us.
Ask for advice
Do you have questions about leveling a floor? Please refer to the product information sheets on our site or go to our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Then get in touch with us. The experts at Epoxywinkel.nl are ready for you!
Disclaimer
Because our products are mostly applied under conditions beyond our control, the application of paint products is always your own responsibility. Our advice regarding application is given to the best of our knowledge and is considered to be only non-binding instructions. We cannot guarantee more than the quality of the product itself.
We deem that the application/processing of the products ordered by you, is carried out by or under the guidance of a professional/experienced expert and that the person makes himself acquainted with our manual and MSDS.