What to Avoid When Leveling a Sunken Slab
In general, concrete leveling is a process which attempts to rectify an uneven concrete surface either by leveling the surface to a level of substandard quality or by repairing damaged concrete surfaces. It is not as easy as it sounds because even the simplest methods will take time to show results. Concrete leveling cannot be achieved without giving a concrete surface with with with a flat base on which to be leveled. This can be accomplished using wedges, but these require time and energy to prepare the surface. Other methods such as cementing together slabs are more effective, but they too take time.
In order to complete the concrete levels 2, the concrete must be thoroughly wetted. This can be done by spraying it with a water-based concrete finish such as Anchorseal or another company’s product. Then the newly poured concrete must be allowed to sit, unbroken, on top of the wet concrete. Where water levels are high, a concrete leveling machine or pump can be used to gradually move the water to a lower level. However, even at these elevated levels, grout lines must be leveled before pouring the concrete.
Another common concrete leveling mistake is the failure to fill in large and small holes. Many times it’s difficult to make sure that all holes are completely sealed against moisture, so many homeowners neglect to double and triple their grout line holes. This leads to uneven surfaces in the finished floor.
Concrete leveling
Another common mistake is the failure to level sunken slabs or to clean around sunken slabs after concrete leveling. Sunken slab areas must be cleaned using a special chemical that breaks the bonds between concrete slabs and soil particles. The product is designed to break up dirt and soil imbedded deep into the concrete, making it easier to remove the dirt once concrete leveling has been performed.
If you have cracked concrete walls, then one of the most important concrete leveling mistakes to avoid is the failure to fill in depressions. Most cracks are located where the concrete has expanded slightly since it was laid. In order to correct these depressions, simply apply a very thick coating of concrete leveling compound. You may also want to use a very coarse-grit sandpaper to further fill in these depressions. Be sure to allow this top coat to dry thoroughly before applying another top coat of finish.
While these concrete leveling mistakes are more than avoidable, they can still be easily corrected. By learning how to properly read your finished slab, you can quickly and easily find out what areas need more sanding or painting. By avoiding oversized depressions on new slabs, you will be reducing the amount of concrete repair necessary once your new slab is installed. Not leveling your sunken slab or incorrectly applying a finishing agent will significantly reduce the time it takes to install a new slab.