Concrete Leveling: A Step-by-Step Guide

Make more beautiful and safer floors.

Installing polished concrete or epoxy on your clients' floor is a sleek finish, but there are essential steps to take for it not only look good. If ignored, then you can ruin all hard work done so far by installing on an uneven ground.

Are you looking how to level your concrete? If so, then this guide is perfect for you! All it takes are some simple tools and materials - if followed right, then you're guaranteed to have a beautiful and sleek concrete floor.

Why Do I Need to Level Concrete?

Uneven surfaces reduce trafficability, which can lower revenue in a building or hurt its aesthetics if ignored.

Uneven surfaces can cause falls and exposes technicians to possible safety issues when working on your flooring project; an unfinished finish would make it difficult for foot traffic or vehicles to move around in future. It's not just practical concerns either - unsightly cracks will mar any beautiful design projects!

Equipment for Concrete Leveling

• Angle and/or large concrete grinder. We have an article detailing our line of concrete grinders which should help you find the best machine for you.

• Self-leveling concrete coating solution.
  • Underlayments like Rapid-Set TRU, or the Ardex Feather Finish, are perfect for epoxy installations.
  • Using an overlayment like the Ardex K 250 or the Ardex SD-Mis perfect for polished concrete installations.
  • There's also urethane cement which can be used as an alternative in your installation. The SPARTACOTE Urethane Cement Floor Coating kit provides everything you need: sleek, durable finish.

• Application equipment, tools (squeegee, trowel, etc). on our EpoxyETC store you can find some of the best tools in the market.

• Level

Use these tools to fix that unsightly leveling issue and make your floors safer, and more durable!

Learn the Concrete Leveling Process

Learning how to level concrete is an essential flooring skill. It'll save you money, time and repairs over time, and make your clients happier. Here is a your guide on leveling concrete:

Step One: Find The Problem Areas

To level your concrete, first identify any low spots. You can usually spot these by eye, but if you really want to be thorough we recommend using a large level to ensure your floors evenness.

When you identify the low areas, it also helps you understand what solution your floor will need, and how intense your solution needs to be.

Step Two: Evenly Spread Self-Leveling Compound

After your initial floor inspection, apply the desired amount of self-leveling compound. This solution can be smoothed out with either trowels or squeegees. Simply spread some of this wonderful stuff on top and then work your way through all those pesky ridges until they disappear into nothingness underfoot

Step Three: Wait for Solution to Dry

You can apply the self-leveling compound and wait for to dry for 24 hours. It's s take time, but eventually your floor will be flat again!

Step Four: Go Over Remaining Issues With a Grinder (Optional)

If you think your floor is still not level after applying the compound then it might be time for a grinder. The grinder should remove any remaining floor issues and leave behind no bumps or ridges!

Step Five: Install a System (Seal or Epoxy)

Once your floor is fixed, you can install an epoxy system atop it, or a concrete sealer. This will keep the polished surface looking like new for years!

Learn Hands-On How To Level Concrete

If you want to learn how to level concrete and other flooring skills hands-on, among other guidance to expand your business, our Polished Concrete University offers a 5 day program designed to teach you.

In the class, we cover using concrete grinding machines, applying concrete sealer, marketing advice for your business and anything else you could need. If you're confused about pricing or developing your website, we also provide guidance in those areas.

Conclusion

Cutting corners and hoping for the best when installing floors can actually result in you wasting money and time. This guide will help you avoid the costly mistake of installing a floor on an uneven surface. Help your installers use more thorough, more efficient methods that get it right every time!

If you have concrete reparation or leveling questions, call (954) 228-8856 to speak to our experts who can answer your questions. If you need the materials mentioned here or more, visit our EpoxyETC.