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Leveling Concrete

nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,006 ******
edited July 2005 in General Discussion
I pulled the carpet up in my hallway. It was bad and I intend to lay tile.

Well, a while back a foundation repair outfit installed some piers down the hallway, so they had to make holes in the slab. When they filled in the holes, they left the patch a bit above the level of the floor.

This wasn't a problem with carpet, since carpet will cover a world of irregularities, but with tile, I need a smooth, level floor.

Home Depot has a concrete floor prep machine. I haven't seen it, but it uses a diamond blade to level out irregularities. It rents for $60 a day and isn't available until late today, but I would probaly pick it up tomorrow (Sunday) and return it Monday afternoon. The rental guy said it would whip out my little job in 4 hours tops.

United rental has a rotary floor polisher with a coarse abrasive pad. It rents for $30 a day and isn't available until Monday. The lady declined to estimate the time I would need.

I have 4 patches to dress down. They are about 18" square. Maximum irregularity is about 1/4 inch.

Among my dad's old tools, I found a big piece of coarse carborundum with a handle, and tried it, but that was too much like work, and would probably take me a week.

What would you do?



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    JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    how high exactly are the patched areas? if they are only say 1/8" high or so,..you can simply spread your thinset adheasive a bit thinner there and pay attention to lay it a bit thicker everywhere else. That should allow the tile to be layed level.

    If not, a 5lb hammer and a concrete chisel should work it down in a few hours worth of sweat equity.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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    cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,430 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sounds like Home Depot is the way to go. You are looking at 9 sq ft of concrete here. Even at only a max of 1/4" that sounds like too much to "polish" to me.

    "too much like work" - I can relate to that!



    cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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    rldowns3rldowns3 Member Posts: 6,096
    edited November -1
    I'm cheap. I'd just take my hammer and chisel and chip out them high spots and smooth it over with some of my left over quickmix, let dry, tile over. But that's just me, and I'm lazy and cheap.

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    select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Go to Home Depot and get their machine and do it right.
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    DIRTYRATDIRTYRAT Member Posts: 2,167 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My boss had an un-even floor and wanted to put Pergo Hard-wood flooring over it. He bought this product called "GypCrete"??? If I remember correctly, and mixed it up into kind of a slurry and poured it down on the floor in 5 gallon buckets. It self-leveled itself and he put the wood flooring down with no problems.....Just some info for yah!...Good-luck!

    Ruric, NE OHIO,
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    slingerslinger Member Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm with select-fire. That type of irregularity can't be remedied with Ex-Lax.

    Art
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    HappyNanoqHappyNanoq Member Posts: 12,023
    edited November -1
    DirtyRat..

    Yeah that's a good product, we have something like it here.
    It's good for resurfacing a worn out floor, and since it levels out by itself, it's great for smoothing out the imperfections or even out a slightly tilted floor.

    And it can have the tiles laid onto it when it's dried.

    1.gif
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    hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Use the leveling compound and then polish/grind down any high spots.
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    AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,050 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought a diamond 9" grinding wheel and leveled concrete with a heavy duty grinder. Diamond wheel was about $100 and I already had the grinder. It was a lot of "on your knees" time but the wheel sure takes off the concrete.

    Your mileage may vary.
    "Every time a system is made foolproof - a new class of fool emerges."
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    jsergovicjsergovic Member Posts: 5,526
    edited November -1
    As alpine[/i] discusses, the a diamond grinding wheel from a contractor supply, once bought, is yours.

    The local shop sells a 5" "cup" wheel guys use for swiping out a pesky raised edge of a sidewalk or smoothing out a curb cut make into the crete or stone.
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    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,006 ******
    edited November -1
    A fried tried to sell me on the notion of using the leveling compound over the entire floor. I don't think so. There are five doorways I would have to keep it out of. I need some leveling compound for the low spots, but I will use the power finisher for the high spots, mess and all.

    Actually, I am not too worried about messing up the walls. They are to be painted anyway.

    FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net
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    sandman2234sandman2234 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The abrasive polisher sounds like something used on tile floors to strip wax.
    A good 2hp 7 or 9 inch grinder will do it, but will require sealing off the area, and using a very good dust mask, and maybe even a collector or ventalation fan. A straight piece of flatbar will work as a straighedge.
    Sandman2234

    Have Gun, will travel<br>
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    cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,430 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    David,

    If you go with that grinder be sure you wear eye protection - not just glasses but a face shield. When I moved to senic Lizton in '82 the first thing I did was build my 24 x 56 shop. I deceided to rent a concrete saw to saw reliefs in the slab in order to control cracking. That worked fine but I did get a speck of concrete in my eye - even with goggles on. Doc found it and got it out that night but it took (with travel) about 3 hours out of my beer drinking time!

    Just be careful.



    cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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    BOBBYWINSBOBBYWINS Member Posts: 7,810
    edited November -1
    Go back with carpet.


    [;)][;)]
    BW


    IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.
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    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,006 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Go back with carpet.

    NO WAY!!!

    As we can afford it, every scrap of carpet in this house is being replaced with either ceramic tile or wood. Under the best of circumstances, carpet is a nasty dirt magnet. The only day it is ever clean is the first day it is installed. From then on, it just gets progressively dirtier, and you can't clean it. You can pretty it up some, remove stains, and fluff it up, but you can't clean it.

    In case someone out there is in the carpet "cleaning" business and wants to accuse me of libel, I challenge you to do your best to keep a piece of carpet clean for 5 years. Then take it up. Look underneath. Not clean.

    We have cats and dogs in the house, which add their fur to the mix, so I want hard floors only.



    FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net
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    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by JustC
    how high exactly are the patched areas? if they are only say 1/8" high or so,..you can simply spread your thinset adheasive a bit thinner there and pay attention to lay it a bit thicker everywhere else. That should allow the tile to be layed level.

    If not, a 5lb hammer and a concrete chisel should work it down in a few hours worth of sweat equity.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?


    That, or a large hammer drill with a chisel bit.

    Eric

    All American Arms Company

    www.galleryofguns.com
    VIP Code: AAAC

    Veteran Owned and Operated
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    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    quote:Go back with carpet.

    NO WAY!!!

    As we can afford it, every scrap of carpet in this house is being replaced with either ceramic tile or wood. Under the best of circumstances, carpet is a nasty dirt magnet. The only day it is ever clean is the first day it is installed. From then on, it just gets progressively dirtier, and you can't clean it. You can pretty it up some, remove stains, and fluff it up, but you can't clean it.

    In case someone out there is in the carpet "cleaning" business and wants to accuse me of libel, I challenge you to do your best to keep a piece of carpet clean for 5 years. Then take it up. Look underneath. Not clean.

    We have cats and dogs in the house, which add their fur to the mix, so I want hard floors only.



    FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net



    Dave...make sure you wear a good dust mask...and you may want to hang plastic around the area you are working on. That dust WILL work it's way into EVERY nook and cranny in your house. It is going to be a dirty job. If you get the right concrete planer, you can use water to keep the dust down...if not, it's going to be so dusty that you cannot see 1' in front of your face.

    Eric

    All American Arms Company

    www.galleryofguns.com
    VIP Code: AAAC

    Veteran Owned and Operated
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    tr foxtr fox Member Posts: 13,856
    edited November -1
    David, if you use any noisy equipment, make sure everyone around uses ear muffs.

    JMHO, but might make less of a mess and be quicker to just rent an electic jackhammer. You could jackhammer the high spots off all in a matter of minutes. Of course you would probably not be able to avoid jackhammering more concrete off than you intend and you would probably be left with a few small holes. But make those holes big enough and you can simply fill them in with fresh concrete.

    I seriously think I would do that myself.

    JMHO

    4lizad
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    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,006 ******
    edited November -1
    The device is intended to be used on a wet surface. This is a hallway, so all I have to do is block off the end of it, and close the doors and stuff towels underneath. I will wear ear and eye protection. And it is a small job, not like I am trying to level 2,000 square feet.

    FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net
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    dawniedawnie Member Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    but you know how all small projects turn out they turn into really really big projects so a 4 hour job lets say 9hours why do you think they rent them for the WHOLE DAY.....
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    grdad45grdad45 Member Posts: 5,317 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you have some time left on the rental after completing the hall, you can use the machine to trim your toenails. That is, if you didn't do it while leveling the floor![:D]

    F&AM, NRA Life (25 yrs)
    "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion."
    Edmund Burke (1729-97)
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    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,006 ******
    edited November -1
    Through trial and error, I found the machine actually works better dry. Seems to cut faster and dust is easier to clean up than mud. But, the job is going slower than anticipated. I took a holiday for tomorrow so I can get finished before I have to pay a late fee.

    Dawnie emailed the foundation company and let them have it. That concrete sure would have been easier to work down while it was still wet.

    FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net
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    Shadow62Shadow62 Member Posts: 828 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    David,
    get a Hyla vaccume. it uses water to filter the dirt
    and it will get the ground in dirt up from the
    carpet.
    or get a grinder and grind down the high spots
    on your floor

    Shadow62

    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    quote:Go back with carpet.

    NO WAY!!!

    As we can afford it, every scrap of carpet in this house is being replaced with either ceramic tile or wood. Under the best of circumstances, carpet is a nasty dirt magnet. The only day it is ever clean is the first day it is installed. From then on, it just gets progressively dirtier, and you can't clean it. You can pretty it up some, remove stains, and fluff it up, but you can't clean it.

    In case someone out there is in the carpet "cleaning" business and wants to accuse me of libel, I challenge you to do your best to keep a piece of carpet clean for 5 years. Then take it up. Look underneath. Not clean.

    We have cats and dogs in the house, which add their fur to the mix, so I want hard floors only.



    FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com the best gun auction site on the Net! Email gpd035@sbcglobal.net



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