Floor leveling is a process that can be done very well — or very, very badly! The risk to getting it wrong is having a floor that you have to take up and redo all over again. A self leveling concrete floor provides the most reliable results. The big question is how much does this kind of leveling cost?
Concrete leveling can be estimated as costing about half of what replacing the entire floor would cost. This makes it a much more budget-friendly, and accurate, solution that can save you a far bigger, more costly, and more time intensive job down the line. A good rule of thumb to estimate is that a self leveling concrete floor will cost around $600-850 per 100 square feet.
What Is Self Leveling Concrete?
Self leveling concrete refers to a a polymer-based cement with what are called high flow characteristics. When you lay it, it flows out like a very thick liquid (think pancake batter). As it dries, it compresses so that its strength is comparable to – and often higher than – traditional concrete.
It’s preferred for flooring that requires a large, smooth area. Many flooring materials have the design technology now to be made thinner while retaining the same strength. At the same time, many flooring materials come in larger tiles and slabs. This increasing thinness and broadness both mean that the underlying concrete floor needs to be exceptionally level.
A few variables affect the cost of laying a self leveling concrete floor. The larger an area you work with, the more that rate may come down. The mixture being used, time involved in curing, and any application of moisture barrier can also have an impact. Let’s dive into the different components that go into this equation.
Materials Used
A self leveling concrete floor essentially uses a polymer-based compound. It seeks out gaps, slopes, and any area that’s slumped or isn’t level. It hardens quickly, which means it has to be spread actively. There are a number of ways to ensure floor leveling, all the way up to laser leveling that guarantees a precision installation.
The compound that’s spread needs to be mixed properly. That means specialized equipment, as well as additives depending on the job and environment in which the floor is being laid. The mixture needs a precise speed and time of mixing for accurate results.
The materials can vary widely because of the additives that may be used for the environment or that are preferred by the customer. At a basic level, you can expect the materials to run you about $120 per 100 square feet.
Labor
If you don’t have experience in laying a self leveling concrete floor, do not attempt it on your own. The labor here is well justified. If you lay a self leveling floor inaccurately or time it badly, you can be left with an expensive problem to tear back up.
Self leveling concrete means that you need to be aware of the substrate involved, thickness being laid, and whether it needs membrane or primer. The mixing must be precise in time, speed, and additives used.
Beyond this, there’s a window for application and a curing time involved. Do you need bonding agent or a moisture barrier? Particular elements in the environment can influence the math that goes into all of this.
The labor for a self leveling concrete floor must be taken seriously, approached with knowledge and experience, and handled with professional timing.
You can expect this to run about $470 per 100 square feet. This usually operates at a fixed rate. The job does go quickly so you’re not talking about racking up any hourly fees, but that speed means the window involved to get everything right can make for intense work.
Other Considerations
When talking about environmental needs, some floors have unique requirements involved in how they’re laid. A self leveling floor may need rises, slopes, or other elements as a part of the final result. This can impact cost.
Additionally, if the leveling involved takes place in an area that’s difficult to work in, this may adjust the compound used or the labor rate. This kind of element is rare, but does happen.
Beyond this, if you are floor leveling in a way that requires a more fundamental movement of the floor itself (mudjacking), or if the condition of the soil beneath is questionable and may disrupt the quality of the leveling in the long run (replacement), you may need different approaches that stabilize your floor before progressing to any self leveling process.
Time Involved
One of the best advantages of floor leveling is that the compounds involved don’t have the same concerns as more traditional concrete. They cure faster and dry faster. Where concrete can often require days or weeks to dry to the point where it can be built upon in a stable fashion, a self leveling concrete floor is usually ready in 24 hours. This can speed up build times considerably.
Different compounds can also be worked with much more easily than concrete, making it simpler to drill into or fasten flooring on top of the self leveling floor.
If you have more questions on floor leveling, ask South Florida’s most trusted experts. We’re here to help!
