One Word: SUBSCRIBE. No music, no fluff; just the facts on point with real life examples. Right off the bat: Screw every nail down on your OSB - First thing I did last week after pulling up the carpet and trim last week. AKA: Squeak hunting!
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY my go to diy page thx for all the content .my house from 1933 in California has tongue and groove subfloor . Not osb . Do I NEED to sand my subfloor before adding self leveler?
I second that, I’m an electrician by trade and I recently bought a house built in the 70’s and by watching your videos I have totally transformed my house. The electrical side of things I could handle but all the other renovations I have done like floors, drywall, baseboards, currently working on remodeling my entire kitchen and finishing up some LVP in my basement but I have been able to accomplish it all by watching your videos and they have been invaluable to me thank you for what you do!
Flooring guy here. After the self lever, "I use feather finish along the ridge" Then sand. They also make a latex additive for better bonding to mix in. Ardex K-60 Rapid Setting Latex. Also, If you are filling in low spots you can run a string from high spot to high spot to know how much to use.
Hi Paul I'm planning on levelling out the floor in my utility room, its been converted from my garage and has that red floor paint that you often find in garages. Im under the impression that self levelling compound wont adhere to that, is there anything i can do to ensure a good bond? Thanks.
@@octechperson I am no expert but I am in the process of leveling my basement which is up and down almost 1.5". I bought a 8 foot aluminum screed which is invaluable. Any perfectly straight edge will do (couldn't find a straight 2x4). I keep placing the 8 footer all over the ground in all directions and mark the low and high spots to figure out where to poor the self leveling. I figure if I can get the 8 footer flush with the floor in all directions the dricore and flooring should go down well. I also have used one of those gyro stabilized lasers on a tripod and I sight one spot on a stick, then move the stick around to figure out high and low spots. The straight edge is easier and more practical though.
As someone who works for a floor prep company, definitely make sure you follow the bags' instructions to a tee! Just cause you have "done this a million times with other products", doesn't mean this new one doesn't need to have the correct amount of water added to flow right. I've personally had plenty of older tradespeople complain about a new leveller they tried, and when asked about how much water they used, they ALWAYS say they don't remember. We sell 5lt jugs just so they use them to put the correct amount of water in.
In my case, I put a little but more water than the amount in the instruction. When I put the correct amount of water, Levelquik did not "self-level" as it should. It was very difficult to apply on a large area and level it manually before it dried.
I use more water and mix it with super hot water for a glass finish with ease,I also use my jackhammer around the poured perimeter with a bushing bit and let gravity be my best helper!!!! Things run much more smoothly using this method!!
I grew up working on all different types of carpentry jobs with my uncle. I love that I learned the skill at a young age. You remind me a lot of him. He was self proclaimed "quality control" when we worked. He oversaw and taught me to produce high quality work. It appears as if you do the same. Not only on the work, but videos, and selflessness to help others. Thanks for the videos to allow me to continue learning on my own
The fact that I can just search “Jeff Thurman self-leveling system” and this beautiful content comes up is truly amazing. God bless you Jeff. You have saved my ass too many times - you are the GOAT!
Great channel with some great tips. One of my goto channels to watch before I tackle home improvements. One thing I'll say about floor leveling. They tell you on the bag how much water to use...and it's crap. It's always too little because they want the material to dry fast...to dry within their marketed time. Give it more water...not too watery...but more (takes some experience)...and it will level out better. Another thing is you can screed it or use a trowel like Jeff did...but if you can get your hands on one of those spiked roller screeds, those work really good for pushing the material around to where you need it and leaving less of a ridge at the edges.
This guy is my go to for all my DIY needs. I always end up on his videos. Awesome contribution to my life and probably thousands of dollars saved so for.
Jeff, is one of the best instructors in UA-cam! The details of HOW to get the project done right and the professional tips is incredible. I've been doing serious DIY projects for over 20 years and I still learn a lot from his channel.
I used self leveler on a slab with cracks before installing vinyl planks. Definitely helps to feather the leveler with a trowel. I didn't trowel and had uneven areas. I used floor patch and sanding to get it as even as possible. I regret not using OSB boards on top of the leveler because now my vinyl planks are separating a bit as the cracks on the slab continue moving.
Really enjoy watching your DIY projects. We have never worked with self leveling products but have mixed plenty of bagged concrete, thin set and grout and highly recommend wearing a mask while pouring any products into the pail.
When using over OSB, the leveler calls for metal lathe. The recommended thickness over OSB is 1/2 inch. When pouring leveler over existing leveler, primer should be used if 12+ hours have passed since first pour. The leveler calls for a specific amount of water and mixing time. Using more water than required causes a dusty finish on top and reduced leveler strength.
I like that you show some of the slightly less than perfect stuff and how to correct it. ("it wouldn't have killed me to mix it for another 30 seconds") etc.
Just went to Home Depot and purchased the same product. I’m watching this again before starting. I’m happy I did because you said to pour out 1/4 inch and let dry before pouring a new layer. I’ll repost after applying it and let you know how it goes.
You're channel is great. We have so much work to do on our home. Thanks to your videos we had the confidence to remodel our bathroom. (We've never dont anything like this). Its been a long few weeks but today we finished! Thanks for such great content. Well put together and explained. Ended up finding your channel again to research how to level out the slant in our home. Wish us luck :)
I could watch your videos all day! I feel inspired and confident that I can learn to do these things too. Thank you for doing what you do. You have a great team as well, it shows in the quality of your videos. I can't imagine how much effort goes into this and how many people are a part of the process. Best wishes!
Oh my, a year ago I looked all over UA-cam for this kind of video to solve my kitchen floor issue. Thanks for this video, now I know what to do when for the next time. I hope you are going to make videos about the next steps in this kitchen too
Hey boss, consider long pieces of primed MDF board (they have great straight edges) for leveling larger areas. I'm the farthest thing from an expert from leveling the floor, and my experience is limited, but when I used a long 8-ft piece of MDF board I was able to get larger areas completely flat in less time. Just thought I would share. And if you really need it to get super level, I recommend strapping or securing a level to your MDF board.
Great video and realistic demonstration. I feel like I’m there with ya. Your one of my favorites to watch. Even with 20 years remodeling experience in many trades, you still teach me a few things. You are the man:) Dave Chicago
another great video. I am fixing up an old house with the same framing, same flooring, same renos and the same issues. Even using IKEA cabinets. This whole series is timed perfect for the jobs I am doing. Keep up the great content.
I am a new subscriber, since being sucked in by your bath tiling videos the other day. Between you and Shannon over at "House Improvements", I believe I have my bases covered if and when I need help with something. You do great work and you are very clear and precise in your directions and your delivery is quite entertaining. This channel is amazing!
@@C8XC8X , I will check him out as well, thanks! Yeah, the Canadians seem to be killing the Industry here on YT, they are good. I mean "killing" in a good way, of course haha.
What an awesome channel - I watch everything from decks to drywall to everything. Found this video by chance and literally just leveled a huge slope from stepping down out of the shower. Still have a half bucket unused (will let it dry), but I mixed it, and 1 bag of this from Home Depot perfectly fills a 5 gallon bucket. Thanks for all the knowledge and videos, and the fortitude to approach jobs with confidence.
Try a magic trowel for your next application. Smooths out like butter. I've put down 80 bags by myself, in a very short time using one on a job. Mixed in 40 gallon garbage cans, I had it spread before the mixer could have the next batch ready. Levelquick RS is the BEST! I've used so many others.
Thanks Jeff. I've been watching your videos for a few years now. Each video is very helpful and helped me complete a number of renovations around the house. This will be my first time using selflever. Thanks for the tips and tricks.
I love watching these, even if its not something I think I'll be using in the near future its always nice to have an idea of how things are done. Thanks a lot Jeff!
I shared a link to your channel and to this vid to my contractor friend. He said he will now be getting a UA-cam account and binge watching your channel, because there a bunch of stuff, even in this more basic video, that he was never taught!
I live in an old home and everything - literally everything - from the ceiling to the floor needs redone. Watching these videos is amazing. As for the leveling specifically, do you have a video showing how to determine what needs leveled? Or how to install a floating floor on a step?
I absolutely love that OLFA snap blade you are using. Its like my right hand man! Been using it for 2 years as my side kick. Any tradesman or homeowner should have a snap blade knife like that. Gone are the days of utility blades for me!
I’m getting ready to install “wood-like” ceramic tiles throughout my entire home, which is only ~2400 square feet; it’s all one level on a concrete slab. The tiles that we’re putting down are the “large format” variety, they’re around 18” by 48” so we’ll have to use this throughout our entire home. Thank you so much for demonstrating this, as I was rather overwhelmed about it. Cheers!
Doing an entire house in an interesting case: how to carry the leveling line from one room to others out of sight. Related, it could be fun locating the highest point of the slab, and could be a fair size project with a laser level.
I watched a couple of other videos on UA-cam about self-levelers, and several of them suggest that you should find the highest spot in a room and pour self-leveler everywhere in a room, not just in the low spot. The reason behind it was that many self-levelers have minimum application thickness (for example, a Mapei product in Lowe's says minimum application thickness is 1/8 inch), and if you pour self-leveler only in the low spot of a room - on the edges of your poured self-leveler thickness would be less than 1/8 ( after sanding the edges it could be next to nothing), and self-leveler can eventually start crack/chip off on the edges due to being paper thin. What's your opinion on this, Jeff?
This is concern that I was wondering about too. My highest spot is limited to one small area in a corner, I would rather not raise the entire floor to that level.
Poured plenty of leveler on a slab in a house in Fl. I flipped, I used duck tape along the walls for a dam, was fast and worked great, would also use it over a crack or hole in a wood floor instead of pushing whatever it is used here and having to trim off.
Hey Jeff, joined the channel a few days ago. I just started renovating my house. I have to do some electrical and plumbing, expand the bathrooms, modernize the kitchen, and then paint all the rooms. I’ve been binge watching your videos and they are helping a lot. I was wondering if there’s a way to ask you some questions? Or just get some direction on what to tackle first. Thanks!
Hi Jeff, just started watching your videos and they are so informative. We are working on our laundry/mud room/Pantry space. We have a question about flooring. We purchased ceramic tile and we are wondering if we should use a barriers on the subfloor before placing the tiles down. The sub floor is in good condition, and we are getting conflicting information. The space is situated above a crawl space and we typically enter our home through that space, so it gets most of the foot traffic. Finally we are located in Northeastern PA, not sure if that matters. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. Keep the videos coming!
Hey Jeff, I sincerely appreciate your instructional video. Just did my first floor leveling project using the LevelQuik® RS product. Wherever I feathered it out along the edges, a bump remained. I tried sanding it off as you suggested, using my Festool Rotex 150. It worked well to smoothen some rough areas, but to really remove some material, only my angle grinder with new diamond cup wheel did the work.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY I often see TOH touting a vendor or something, it kinda is a pain. I love the Home RenoVision DIY as it shows things that almost anyone can do without a speciality tool or system. Jeff gives advice and tips that save time and money. Ask This Old House is a little better but dosen't hold a candle to HRV-DIY
Seriously tho, listen to him when he says get a slow mixer for this! When I used floor lever in my basement I was dumb and decided to just try to use my basic corded drill and I ended up destroying the motor in 10 seconds. By the time I got a replacement drill the mix started to setup already and I had to chuck it. Half a bag of lever down the drain. Lesson learned the hard way!
Of course, I had to try since my ol' B&D corded drill has mixed quite a bunch of paint in the past -- but never anything as thick as a half bag of leveling compound. Long story short, my drill worked... barely. The drill got quite hot. It took me about 10 minutes to mix the half bag because I had to go slow and mix the compound without sloshing around the water too much and make a mess. This didn't give me much time to pour and set the leveler. Anyways, I went to the Depot tonight to pick up the Rigid paddle mixer for tomorrow's pour.
Thank you so much for this video Jeff, I leveled the floor in my pantry using these products and the end result is absolutely great. What would you recommend at a minimum for a sub-floor before laying self-leveling cement? I've stripped a bathroom down to bare joists and I'm starting from scratch.
Home RenoVision DIY I used 1/4 inch plywood to bring my flooring level with tile and used PL and screws to hold down. Is that fine . Cost was $8 instead of $40 per sheet
dont over think it guys its really straight forward. this leveling system is so easy and its really hard to mess this up despite how complicated it might look
You said you used plywood to build up some of the low areas. Can I mortar cement board down to a cement slab to fill some of the gap before using leveler?
Hi, I noticed you didn't use a galvanized lath mesh. Is it necessary to use one for a small area of about 9 sq. ft. when applying self leveling compound?
Hi Jeff, thanks for the video. Question: we have already waterproofed the ensuite floor and have found the old floor is somewhat less than level - down in one corner, hump in the centre then down to the drain. Can I use a levelling compound over the waterproofing or do I need to sand this off, level and then re-waterproof?
The instructions for this product (and some others I’ve seen) call for a metal lath to be installed over the plywood before you use the self-leveler. You don’t do that in this video, and frankly I’m not sure if I’ve seen anyone do that. What are your thoughts on this?
Hey Jeff, Thanks so much for all the videos and instructions you provide. You are a fantastic wealth of knowledge and I appreciated all that you share. I still hope tuck-pointing will be in the future (I've have a house needing it in the spring/summer). Thanks for all you do! Cheers
Hi Jeff, I have been watching your videos for a couple of years now and its by far the most useful, helpful and content rich material I've seen, thank you for all the effort you put in to helping the DIYer community. We own a 1940's home in Toronto's East York community and have recently gutted part of the basement to build a new bathroom and laundry room. Our concrete floor is not level and there is no insolation on the walls. My question is to level the floor should i use any moisture barrier before installing plywood to level? With regards to insulation should i use Typar stapled to the back of the frames? Thank you
Maybe you've covered this. What is the difference between underlayment leveler vs. concrete leveler. I'm especially interested in understanding the weight differences. Also, what do you think about having a garden air blower, at a low setting, to help the leveling process along. That way you could get to areas that you might not be able to with a trowel.
Hello, and thanks for all the great info! I followed your tutorial and used a primer over plywood subfloor and then poured self leveler (I used Henry 555) inside my small 22 sq ft. Bathroom. I feathered out the edges of the leveler and ended up covering about 95% of the floor where there was a big dip. When I called Henry, the tech specialist said I did two things wrong: I didn’t use a mesh lath before pouring the leveler and I should have covered 100% of the floor, not 95%. But I didn’t see you covering the entire floor in this video or using a mesh lath - do you think that’s ok?
I just finished leveling over wood and it came out pretty good. Thank you so much. Would you recommend cement board over the self level or just tile on top of the leveler ?
Can you use this on top of ceramic tile? My tile was installed and it is uneven it has now cracked in some spots and trying to find best way to repair it or should it be removed and then level before I install new tile? HELP...
install a second or third layer of osb first and then prime and add leveler. you can use a 6' level to identify how much fill you can add fist to save some money and layers . Cheers!
Jeff I love your videos.! I have a floor that is 1.5” out of level (from one side of the room to the other.) It’s a plywood subfloor (tongue and groove ,) above a crawl space. Before applying self leveler I will be adding layer(s) of plywood to the shallow side of the room. Question: when adding a layer of plywood, do I need to glue and screw each layer of plywood? Also do I need to shim the edges of the plywood to feather into the existing floor.?
Your floors beneath the leveler need to be solid because the leveler is not rubber, cement will crack apart even though its acrylic fortified or fiber reinforced, its still a silica cementitious compound that hards up and is relatively thin when finished.. but regarding feathering, as much as you can yes.. the less leveler used makes both the wallet happier and the leg work.. you really dont want to have more than a quarter inch of leveler in one spot, half inch max.. its not a structural concrete and is very fine granules used so it has no strength in itself when you get too thick so if using quarter inch subfloor than id make it a gradual transition to flat but no need for a drywall style feathering blend as the stuff does that for you.. but screw all additional wood every 6-8" with screws that will go into the lowest member there, its also good to use a subfloor adhesive caulking as well as screws to stop any squeeks..
I use a laser to measure the thickness needed. then I lay a 6 ft level from the high point and block it level. install plywood to fill the void and then add leveler.
I figure the slope in my floor saved me from a running toilet that froze up the main septic pipe. All of the water drained into the rock cellar at the baseboard with very little damage done. Heh. 🙄
Love the channel. One wish is that you would list specific links to the supply items in your videos. I see the links to the tools, like a tape measure, but most folks have most of the tools (like a tape measure). I find myself in a scramble replaying the video to identify the supply items, like the primer. Thanks for all the hard work that goes into the video production. The tutorials are awesome.
i was thinking the exact same thing but dust masks are useless crap they leave way too much space between u and mask get a respirator p95 is only twenty bucks and it actually works
This was very insightful. I used the same products while leveling our bathroom after removing tile so there were some gaps around the toilet and tub. Do you have extra tips on setting up guards/barriers to keep the quickcrete from going into places you don't want it to go??
www.tiletools.com/product/edgeban-linear-barrier-for-self-leveling-compound/ This might help. Unfortumately, I stumbled into this after I remodeled my bathroom.
One Word: SUBSCRIBE. No music, no fluff; just the facts on point with real life examples. Right off the bat: Screw every nail down on your OSB - First thing I did last week after pulling up the carpet and trim last week. AKA: Squeak hunting!
I hate when they have that annoying music!
Literally hands down, one of the best youtube channel for diy home improvement!
Cheers Jef!
I watch for several hours every day
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY my go to diy page thx for all the content .my house from 1933 in California has tongue and groove subfloor . Not osb . Do I NEED to sand my subfloor before adding self leveler?
I second that, I’m an electrician by trade and I recently bought a house built in the 70’s and by watching your videos I have totally transformed my house. The electrical side of things I could handle but all the other renovations I have done like floors, drywall, baseboards, currently working on remodeling my entire kitchen and finishing up some LVP in my basement but I have been able to accomplish it all by watching your videos and they have been invaluable to me thank you for what you do!
Can’t agree more.
Your like the only person that truly understands what your doing. You explain the reasoning behind everything which a lot of people don’t.
AMEN to that!!
That's why I'm a member. One of the very few channels for which I am a member.
Flooring guy here. After the self lever, "I use feather finish along the ridge" Then sand. They also make a latex additive for better bonding to mix in.
Ardex K-60 Rapid Setting Latex.
Also, If you are filling in low spots you can run a string from high spot to high spot to know how much to use.
Hi Paul
I'm planning on levelling out the floor in my utility room, its been converted from my garage and has that red floor paint that you often find in garages. Im under the impression that self levelling compound wont adhere to that, is there anything i can do to ensure a good bond?
Thanks.
@@Darren_Kelly I would skuff it up as much as possible with sandpaper. The more the better. Cheers and good luck.
Thank you, the tip with the string will come in handy. I was wondering how I could figure out how out of level I was or not.
@@octechperson I am no expert but I am in the process of leveling my basement which is up and down almost 1.5". I bought a 8 foot aluminum screed which is invaluable. Any perfectly straight edge will do (couldn't find a straight 2x4). I keep placing the 8 footer all over the ground in all directions and mark the low and high spots to figure out where to poor the self leveling. I figure if I can get the 8 footer flush with the floor in all directions the dricore and flooring should go down well. I also have used one of those gyro stabilized lasers on a tripod and I sight one spot on a stick, then move the stick around to figure out high and low spots. The straight edge is easier and more practical though.
Your no flooring guy at all your a beginner at best if you find this video intuitive
As someone who works for a floor prep company, definitely make sure you follow the bags' instructions to a tee! Just cause you have "done this a million times with other products", doesn't mean this new one doesn't need to have the correct amount of water added to flow right. I've personally had plenty of older tradespeople complain about a new leveller they tried, and when asked about how much water they used, they ALWAYS say they don't remember. We sell 5lt jugs just so they use them to put the correct amount of water in.
That is why even pros use the pails with measures. Water amount is so important. As is covering that osb if yo want anything to stick to it.
@@carlk2193 You are right: measuring is what makes them pros.
In my case, I put a little but more water than the amount in the instruction. When I put the correct amount of water, Levelquik did not "self-level" as it should. It was very difficult to apply on a large area and level it manually before it dried.
I use more water and mix it with super hot water for a glass finish with ease,I also use my jackhammer around the poured perimeter with a bushing bit and let gravity be my best helper!!!! Things run much more smoothly using this method!!
Depends on temp and humidity as well, so directions are open to interpretation depending on situation
I grew up working on all different types of carpentry jobs with my uncle. I love that I learned the skill at a young age. You remind me a lot of him. He was self proclaimed "quality control" when we worked. He oversaw and taught me to produce high quality work. It appears as if you do the same. Not only on the work, but videos, and selflessness to help others. Thanks for the videos to allow me to continue learning on my own
God Bless your Uncle!
Jeff is a True Canadian, love to share wealth of knowledge and experiences. Thank you. In the words of Spok " May you live long and prosper"
Living long I got under control. It is the Prosper part I am focusing on right now. Hopefully with UA-cam's help we can all benefit together! Cheers!
The fact that I can just search “Jeff Thurman self-leveling system” and this beautiful content comes up is truly amazing. God bless you Jeff. You have saved my ass too many times - you are the GOAT!
Great channel with some great tips. One of my goto channels to watch before I tackle home improvements.
One thing I'll say about floor leveling. They tell you on the bag how much water to use...and it's crap. It's always too little because they want the material to dry fast...to dry within their marketed time. Give it more water...not too watery...but more (takes some experience)...and it will level out better. Another thing is you can screed it or use a trowel like Jeff did...but if you can get your hands on one of those spiked roller screeds, those work really good for pushing the material around to where you need it and leaving less of a ridge at the edges.
This guy is my go to for all my DIY needs. I always end up on his videos. Awesome contribution to my life and probably thousands of dollars saved so for.
Cheers!
Jeff, is one of the best instructors in UA-cam! The details of HOW to get the project done right and the professional tips is incredible. I've been doing serious DIY projects for over 20 years and I still learn a lot from his channel.
I used self leveler on a slab with cracks before installing vinyl planks. Definitely helps to feather the leveler with a trowel. I didn't trowel and had uneven areas. I used floor patch and sanding to get it as even as possible. I regret not using OSB boards on top of the leveler because now my vinyl planks are separating a bit as the cracks on the slab continue moving.
Really enjoy watching your DIY projects. We have never worked with self leveling products but have mixed plenty of bagged concrete, thin set and grout and highly recommend wearing a mask while pouring any products into the pail.
I've watched several videos of Home RenoVision DIY, and I ended up building my own house.
Nice Cheers Brian!
I just watch for fun
Better be careful, it’s addictive and you just might start building other peoples homes.
Same here. When I was a kid it was the old timers that knew all of this stuff, but now it’s UA-cam.
Is this cement good to level concrete out side ? Thanks
When using over OSB, the leveler calls for metal lathe. The recommended thickness over OSB is 1/2 inch. When pouring leveler over existing leveler, primer should be used if 12+ hours have passed since first pour. The leveler calls for a specific amount of water and mixing time. Using more water than required causes a dusty finish on top and reduced leveler strength.
Yeah. I saw that too.
Sal Diblasi is the guy to watch
Don’t let carpenters near screeding or flooring in general, end of!
I’m a general contractor and I do my job super professional but honestly I really like to watch your videos 😅😅
I like that you show some of the slightly less than perfect stuff and how to correct it. ("it wouldn't have killed me to mix it for another 30 seconds") etc.
Just being real. it teaches more than being perfect! Cheers!
You give me confidence to do tasks I’ve never done before.
Just went to Home Depot and purchased the same product. I’m watching this again before starting. I’m happy I did because you said to pour out 1/4 inch and let dry before pouring a new layer. I’ll repost after applying it and let you know how it goes.
You're channel is great. We have so much work to do on our home. Thanks to your videos we had the confidence to remodel our bathroom. (We've never dont anything like this). Its been a long few weeks but today we finished!
Thanks for such great content. Well put together and explained.
Ended up finding your channel again to research how to level out the slant in our home. Wish us luck :)
That is awesome! cheers Mary!
I could watch your videos all day! I feel inspired and confident that I can learn to do these things too. Thank you for doing what you do. You have a great team as well, it shows in the quality of your videos. I can't imagine how much effort goes into this and how many people are a part of the process. Best wishes!
Oh my, a year ago I looked all over UA-cam for this kind of video to solve my kitchen floor issue. Thanks for this video, now I know what to do when for the next time. I hope you are going to make videos about the next steps in this kitchen too
On the way Miss Festerson. Cheers! flooring counters tile and appliance install as well as window trim and cabinet finishing.
Hey boss, consider long pieces of primed MDF board (they have great straight edges) for leveling larger areas. I'm the farthest thing from an expert from leveling the floor, and my experience is limited, but when I used a long 8-ft piece of MDF board I was able to get larger areas completely flat in less time. Just thought I would share. And if you really need it to get super level, I recommend strapping or securing a level to your MDF board.
Great video and realistic demonstration. I feel like I’m there with ya. Your one of my favorites to watch. Even with 20 years remodeling experience in many trades, you still teach me a few things. You are the man:)
Dave
Chicago
This man taught me how to paint. No tape! Wish this guy was my neighbor. We would have so much built
another great video. I am fixing up an old house with the same framing, same flooring, same renos and the same issues. Even using IKEA cabinets. This whole series is timed perfect for the jobs I am doing. Keep up the great content.
I hope you like to take your time. we only release once a week. Cheers!
I am a new subscriber, since being sucked in by your bath tiling videos the other day. Between you and Shannon over at "House Improvements", I believe I have my bases covered if and when I need help with something. You do great work and you are very clear and precise in your directions and your delivery is quite entertaining. This channel is amazing!
Don't forget Vancouver Carpenter for the Canadian DIY Trifecta. Or maybe that's a Hat Trick.
@@C8XC8X , I will check him out as well, thanks! Yeah, the Canadians seem to be killing the Industry here on YT, they are good. I mean "killing" in a good way, of course haha.
What an awesome channel - I watch everything from decks to drywall to everything. Found this video by chance and literally just leveled a huge slope from stepping down out of the shower. Still have a half bucket unused (will let it dry), but I mixed it, and 1 bag of this from Home Depot perfectly fills a 5 gallon bucket. Thanks for all the knowledge and videos, and the fortitude to approach jobs with confidence.
My go to channel. Simply the best home improvement channel.
Cheers Master Smoosh!
Try a magic trowel for your next application. Smooths out like butter. I've put down 80 bags by myself, in a very short time using one on a job. Mixed in 40 gallon garbage cans, I had it spread before the mixer could have the next batch ready. Levelquick RS is the BEST! I've used so many others.
Jeff is the MVP of DIY
Your videos are very helpful. Out of curiosity, have you ever had your lungs like...checked?
Thanks Jeff. I've been watching your videos for a few years now. Each video is very helpful and helped me complete a number of renovations around the house. This will be my first time using selflever. Thanks for the tips and tricks.
I love watching these, even if its not something I think I'll be using in the near future its always nice to have an idea of how things are done. Thanks a lot Jeff!
This is why I follow this channel. It's good to know just in case.
Wow! Right in time for me to start ripping up my carpet for vinyl! Thanks!!!
good call! Cheers!
Thanks!
Cheers Jimmy, happy to be of some help!
Thanks for all these great videos!
Happy to help Gabriel! Cheers!
I shared a link to your channel and to this vid to my contractor friend. He said he will now be getting a UA-cam account and binge watching your channel, because there a bunch of stuff, even in this more basic video, that he was never taught!
And this is a smart dude with over 10 years experience, but he just wants to get even better. I guess education never stops.
I live in an old home and everything - literally everything - from the ceiling to the floor needs redone. Watching these videos is amazing. As for the leveling specifically, do you have a video showing how to determine what needs leveled? Or how to install a floating floor on a step?
This. How do I find out if my floors are not level to a certain tolerance? For example 3/16” over 10’
I absolutely love that OLFA snap blade you are using. Its like my right hand man! Been using it for 2 years as my side kick. Any tradesman or homeowner should have a snap blade knife like that. Gone are the days of utility blades for me!
Another interesting and informative video. Thanks Jeff.
Thanks Larry, thanks for checking it out! I hope this helps folks!
I’m getting ready to install “wood-like” ceramic tiles throughout my entire home, which is only ~2400 square feet; it’s all one level on a concrete slab. The tiles that we’re putting down are the “large format” variety, they’re around 18” by 48” so we’ll have to use this throughout our entire home. Thank you so much for demonstrating this, as I was rather overwhelmed about it. Cheers!
How did it turn out?
Doing an entire house in an interesting case: how to carry the leveling line from one room to others out of sight. Related, it could be fun locating the highest point of the slab, and could be a fair size project with a laser level.
I watched a couple of other videos on UA-cam about self-levelers, and several of them suggest that you should find the highest spot in a room and pour self-leveler everywhere in a room, not just in the low spot. The reason behind it was that many self-levelers have minimum application thickness (for example, a Mapei product in Lowe's says minimum application thickness is 1/8 inch), and if you pour self-leveler only in the low spot of a room - on the edges of your poured self-leveler thickness would be less than 1/8 ( after sanding the edges it could be next to nothing), and self-leveler can eventually start crack/chip off on the edges due to being paper thin. What's your opinion on this, Jeff?
This is concern that I was wondering about too. My highest spot is limited to one small area in a corner, I would rather not raise the entire floor to that level.
Poured plenty of leveler on a slab in a house in Fl. I flipped, I used duck tape along the walls for a dam, was fast and worked great, would also use it over a crack or hole in a wood floor instead of pushing whatever it is used here and having to trim off.
Hey Jeff, joined the channel a few days ago. I just started renovating my house. I have to do some electrical and plumbing, expand the bathrooms, modernize the kitchen, and then paint all the rooms. I’ve been binge watching your videos and they are helping a lot. I was wondering if there’s a way to ask you some questions? Or just get some direction on what to tackle first. Thanks!
check out the community posts for members on the home page. there is a email address you can send photos and I can help advise. Cheers!
I'm in a similar situation with my 1940's home. When there's so much to do it's overwhelming to know where to start
We followed this video step by step and had great success!!! Thank you!!!
Glad it helped!
Hi Jeff, just started watching your videos and they are so informative. We are working on our laundry/mud room/Pantry space. We have a question about flooring. We purchased ceramic tile and we are wondering if we should use a barriers on the subfloor before placing the tiles down. The sub floor is in good condition, and we are getting conflicting information. The space is situated above a crawl space and we typically enter our home through that space, so it gets most of the foot traffic. Finally we are located in Northeastern PA, not sure if that matters. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. Keep the videos coming!
Hey Jeff, I sincerely appreciate your instructional video. Just did my first floor leveling project using the LevelQuik® RS product. Wherever I feathered it out along the edges, a bump remained. I tried sanding it off as you suggested, using my Festool Rotex 150. It worked well to smoothen some rough areas, but to really remove some material, only my angle grinder with new diamond cup wheel did the work.
Festool? Check out the big brains on Brad. That’s a tasty burger. Mind if I wash it down with your tasty beverage?
This dude could easily steal the gig hosting this old house
This old house just teases rarely saying HOW to do something.
Very interesting opinion. I guess if you already know a lot then it can be beneficial. Cheers!
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY I often see TOH touting a vendor or something, it kinda is a pain. I love the Home RenoVision DIY as it shows things that almost anyone can do without a speciality tool or system. Jeff gives advice and tips that save time and money. Ask This Old House is a little better but dosen't hold a candle to HRV-DIY
You are absolutely the best ...love watching your videos !!!!!!!
Seriously tho, listen to him when he says get a slow mixer for this! When I used floor lever in my basement I was dumb and decided to just try to use my basic corded drill and I ended up destroying the motor in 10 seconds. By the time I got a replacement drill the mix started to setup already and I had to chuck it. Half a bag of lever down the drain. Lesson learned the hard way!
The important thing is to learn from those mistakes and get better. Cheers! We have all learned the hard way!
Of course, I had to try since my ol' B&D corded drill has mixed quite a bunch of paint in the past -- but never anything as thick as a half bag of leveling compound. Long story short, my drill worked... barely. The drill got quite hot. It took me about 10 minutes to mix the half bag because I had to go slow and mix the compound without sloshing around the water too much and make a mess. This didn't give me much time to pour and set the leveler. Anyways, I went to the Depot tonight to pick up the Rigid paddle mixer for tomorrow's pour.
Thank you so much for this video. I was under the impression I would have to pour wall to wall to get a level result. You just saved me a ton of money
Thank you so much for this video Jeff, I leveled the floor in my pantry using these products and the end result is absolutely great. What would you recommend at a minimum for a sub-floor before laying self-leveling cement? I've stripped a bathroom down to bare joists and I'm starting from scratch.
I never knew I could it myself until I saw you. Thank you! ❤
YOU ARE EVERYWHERE! Exactly how many videos does HOME RENO have?
(I'm starting to feel like a stalker!!!)😂
around 329. cheers!
Amazing channel and content as always
Thank you so much 😀Cheers Darwin!
Would using Plywood for flooring be better since it is more rigid/stronger?
sure if you don't mind the extra expense. not necessary though. Cheers!
Home RenoVision DIY I used 1/4 inch plywood to bring my flooring level with tile and used PL and screws to hold down. Is that fine . Cost was $8 instead of $40 per sheet
dont over think it guys its really straight forward. this leveling system is so easy and its really hard to mess this up despite how complicated it might look
You said you used plywood to build up some of the low areas. Can I mortar cement board down to a cement slab to fill some of the gap before using leveler?
definitely McKenzie! use a little thin set and off you got o the races. 1/4 or 1/2 " Cheers!
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY perfect! Thanks!
Hi, I noticed you didn't use a galvanized lath mesh. Is it necessary to use one for a small area of about 9 sq. ft. when applying self leveling compound?
I see that half-empty corona in the background 5:01. My kinda project.
Your channel is amazing.
Thank you so much 😀
Hi Jeff, thanks for the video. Question: we have already waterproofed the ensuite floor and have found the old floor is somewhat less than level - down in one corner, hump in the centre then down to the drain. Can I use a levelling compound over the waterproofing or do I need to sand this off, level and then re-waterproof?
Oh man, Jeff, I could have used this info 3 houses ago. Kitchen floor had dips in it (very old house). Now I know. Thank you!
Cheers Cathy. this stuff works like magic!
The instructions for this product (and some others I’ve seen) call for a metal lath to be installed over the plywood before you use the self-leveler. You don’t do that in this video, and frankly I’m not sure if I’ve seen anyone do that. What are your thoughts on this?
This guy is the Bob Vila we never knew we needed....
Can you use the self leveling over existing tile to fill in grout lines before installing LVP?
Do i need a primer if my floor is already concrete to begin with? Or can i just use self leveling cement (basement floor)
Hey Jeff, Thanks so much for all the videos and instructions you provide. You are a fantastic wealth of knowledge and I appreciated all that you share. I still hope tuck-pointing will be in the future (I've have a house needing it in the spring/summer). Thanks for all you do! Cheers
we will get to that one of these days! Cheers!
Your videos are the best. But oh man - mixing cement inside is bad news. That dust never leaves the building.
Literally just did this work today and use the same stuff from homedepot. I use tape for the seams so it doesn’t end up on the basement lol
I like that tape idea, going to have to level out a room tomorrow. Learning how to do it tonight, lol
Bob Ross of DIY you are Jeff. 🙌🏼
Hi Jeff, I have been watching your videos for a couple of years now and its by far the most useful, helpful and content rich material I've seen, thank you for all the effort you put in to helping the DIYer community. We own a 1940's home in Toronto's East York community and have recently gutted part of the basement to build a new bathroom and laundry room. Our concrete floor is not level and there is no insolation on the walls. My question is to level the floor should i use any moisture barrier before installing plywood to level? With regards to insulation should i use Typar stapled to the back of the frames? Thank you
Maybe you've covered this. What is the difference between underlayment leveler vs. concrete leveler. I'm especially interested in understanding the weight differences. Also, what do you think about having a garden air blower, at a low setting, to help the leveling process along. That way you could get to areas that you might not be able to with a trowel.
Is there a way to level a basement floor with like expanding foam or something like that?
nope. In most basements I suggest to leave the slope alone. it is necessary drain in the event of minor water infiltration events.
Basements are always designed to have a pitch that leads to the sump pump so water can drain more fluently in case of flooding.
Very rarely do i comment, but this video is great. I appreciate it
Hello, and thanks for all the great info! I followed your tutorial and used a primer over plywood subfloor and then poured self leveler (I used Henry 555) inside my small 22 sq ft. Bathroom. I feathered out the edges of the leveler and ended up covering about 95% of the floor where there was a big dip. When I called Henry, the tech specialist said I did two things wrong: I didn’t use a mesh lath before pouring the leveler and I should have covered 100% of the floor, not 95%. But I didn’t see you covering the entire floor in this video or using a mesh lath - do you think that’s ok?
Another awesome video ! Just tells you how it is and how to get it done. No B.S.ing around , top notch work! keep it up bud.
What did one sloped floor say to the other sloped floor?
I feel *inclined* to tell you something
#cheers
Definitely in the top 5. Cheers!
I just finished leveling over wood and it came out pretty good. Thank you so much. Would you recommend cement board over the self level or just tile on top of the leveler ?
11:05 Leveler smoke. Don't breathe this.
if you are going to handle cement products all day then use a mask. occasionally not a problem.
I was afraid to try this until I saw your vid! Eazy!
First time I used this I too had floor leveller raining in my basement. 😳 oops.
not easy if you plug up the holes. Cheers!
Can you use this on top of ceramic tile? My tile was installed and it is uneven it has now cracked in some spots and trying to find best way to repair it or should it be removed and then level before I install new tile? HELP...
@@yolandaguerra7188 remove the ceramic and start over... dont try to cover a bad job by adding another layer of flooring over it.
@@nmarmz yea agree
The subfloor I want to put the primer on was painted. Will this affect the primer from adhering to the floor?
Quick and simple instructions, thank you.
What would be the solution for 1 inch gap. I can't assume self leveler has it would be very costly
install a second or third layer of osb first and then prime and add leveler. you can use a 6' level to identify how much fill you can add fist to save some money and layers . Cheers!
Sure wish we would have had this advice ~16 years ago (lots of crackles to fix now).
Jeff I love your videos.!
I have a floor that is 1.5” out of level (from one side of the room to the other.) It’s a plywood subfloor (tongue and groove ,) above a crawl space. Before applying self leveler I will be adding layer(s) of plywood to the shallow side of the room.
Question:
when adding a layer of plywood, do I need to glue and screw each layer of plywood? Also do I need to shim the edges of the plywood to feather into the existing floor.?
Your floors beneath the leveler need to be solid because the leveler is not rubber, cement will crack apart even though its acrylic fortified or fiber reinforced, its still a silica cementitious compound that hards up and is relatively thin when finished.. but regarding feathering, as much as you can yes.. the less leveler used makes both the wallet happier and the leg work.. you really dont want to have more than a quarter inch of leveler in one spot, half inch max.. its not a structural concrete and is very fine granules used so it has no strength in itself when you get too thick so if using quarter inch subfloor than id make it a gradual transition to flat but no need for a drywall style feathering blend as the stuff does that for you.. but screw all additional wood every 6-8" with screws that will go into the lowest member there, its also good to use a subfloor adhesive caulking as well as screws to stop any squeeks..
J.E double F equals LEGEND. thanks for sharing the knowledge SIR.. WOOOOOOOO!!
Happy to help Birdman. Oooohh Yeah!
I just tried this and my large drill jumped into high torque. Up came a plume and wet slurry all over me. Stir slowly!
Nice!!!!!!!!!! I’m doing that right now works good and it is a little pricey but is worth it 👍👍👍👍
Used self level in my upstairs bathroom, and on my washer, water heater, part of the floor and a lot of plumbing in my basement. 😂
Love that stuff. works like a charm!
Thank you for the info👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊
Cheers JR, happy to help!
11:02 Sounds like a game character voice clip 😂
I get it. Cheers!
I need to do the same thing to my floor before tiling. Glad I got to see you do it first. Thanks Jeff.
Always check with apt mgmt before doing anything to an apt beside paint.
How did you know how out of level the floor was, and how much leveler to use?
I use a laser to measure the thickness needed. then I lay a 6 ft level from the high point and block it level. install plywood to fill the void and then add leveler.
Could i put this self leveling concrete to my garage floor & then put stain color on it so that way i don't have to paint it ??? Lmk please
I figure the slope in my floor saved me from a running toilet that froze up the main septic pipe. All of the water drained into the rock cellar at the baseboard with very little damage done. Heh. 🙄
one of the reasons we shouldn't fix the floor in the basement. Cheers!
Love the channel. One wish is that you would list specific links to the supply items in your videos. I see the links to the tools, like a tape measure, but most folks have most of the tools (like a tape measure). I find myself in a scramble replaying the video to identify the supply items, like the primer. Thanks for all the hard work that goes into the video production. The tutorials are awesome.
Please remember to wear a dust mask when your mixing your batches,so you don’t get silicosis.👍🔨
Than ks Troy, However i don't mix much anymore so I tend to be more on the occasional means less safety side of things. Cheers!
i was thinking the exact same thing but dust masks are useless crap they leave way too much space between u and mask get a respirator p95 is only twenty bucks and it actually works
This was very insightful. I used the same products while leveling our bathroom after removing tile so there were some gaps around the toilet and tub. Do you have extra tips on setting up guards/barriers to keep the quickcrete from going into places you don't want it to go??
www.tiletools.com/product/edgeban-linear-barrier-for-self-leveling-compound/
This might help. Unfortumately, I stumbled into this after I remodeled my bathroom.
Bro your breathing straight silica lol put a n95 on but thanks for lesson
why did I have to scroll this far to see this?! bro put a mask on!
Thanks for the very informative video, Jeff! It was very helpful.
“I did this a bunch of times” , then uses a notch trowel 😂
sorry If i offended you with my simplistic approach. it is after all a self leveler