Pour Self-Leveling Concrete Underlayment

Category: Flooring · Difficulty: Intermediate · Time: 4.7h · Estimated cost: $280

Tools needed

Clean the subfloor perfectly
Sweep then vacuum. Any debris, paint flakes, or dust will cause delamination. Patch any large holes with a cementitious patch first.
Duration: 45 min
Tape doorways and dam openings
Self-leveler flows aggressively. Tape thresholds, register openings, and any low spots that exit the room. Set foam strip around perimeter as expansion joint.
Duration: 30 min
Prime the entire floor
Roll on the acrylic primer per directions. Let dry until tacky (usually 1 to 4 hours). Primer prevents the leveler from drying too fast and cracking.
Duration: 1h
Mix one bag at a time, fast
Pour cool water into bucket per label (usually about 5 quarts per 50 lb bag). Add powder, mix with paddle for 2 minutes to a smooth pancake-batter consistency. You have about 15 minutes working time.
Duration: 10 min
Pour and rake
Pour into the LOW area first. Use gauge rake to spread to your target depth (1/8" to 1" max per pour). Mix and pour next bag immediately — overlap wet edges, don't let any bag set up before the next is poured.
Duration: 1h 30m
Spike-roll to release air bubbles
Within 5 minutes of placement, spike-roll the surface lightly to pop trapped air bubbles. Don't over-work it.
Duration: 15 min
Cure 4-24 hours
Walkable in 4 hours, ready for tile or LVP in 24 hours per the label. Don't fan dry — slow cure is stronger.
Duration: 30 min

Wear a dust mask when mixing — the powder is silica-heavy.
Plan your pour route BEFORE mixing — once it's on the floor you can't stop to think.
Never exceed the max pour depth in one lift or it will crack as it dries.

Pours larger than 200 sq ft or over heated floors — needs a 2-person team and faster mixing than a single drill can keep up with.