Levelling a concrete floor

[jaypee]

Hi All - Yes I am a newbie

quick question. I have a concrete floor that needs to be re levelled. It is out by about 100mill from the front to back (approx 10mtres). The whole area is approx 100msq. What would anyone recomend. I have come up with a number of thoughts but wanted to get some feedback

1) Reconcrete over the top
2) Use one of those self leveling compounds (very exy though)
3) Put batterns and Particle borad flooring down

any thoughts. Has anyone tried this before?

[boban]

1)

[jaypee]

Thanks Boban

I assume you mean Option1.

:)

[boban]

Yes, ask for a topping coat mix from the concrete co.

[jaypee]

Boban,

would this come from a pre mixed concrete company (ie in a concrete truck)

[floobyduster]

I would suggest checking what you would need to do to the existing suface so that the new top coat 'sticks'. Also you will need to make the thin end thick enough so that it doesn't break up over time, especially if heavy items are moved around on it.

[jaypee]

Hmmm,

hence the reason I thought Option 3 may be better.......

[boban]

Boban,

would this come from a pre mixed concrete company (ie in a concrete truck)

Yes. I take it you will be getting a concretor to do this. Finishing 100m2 properly is not easy for a newby DIY concretor. Even levelling out roughly for a newby is difficult for areas that large. Unfortunately I've been doing it since I was a kid.

I was trying to keep the answer very short as I assumed that you only want a method as opposed to advice on how to do it.

My father and I did exactly that type of job not too long ago. We jackhammered out enough out to get a minimum 50mm cover and layed F72 mesh.

[jaypee]

Boban

yes Newbie in terms of concreting.

So what would the ball park be on something like this. I had one of those self levelling product sales guys tell me $5k for them to do it. would be interested in a ball park if you can. (I know there are lots of variables):)

[Pulse]

Concrete is about $170 per m3 so to cover to 100mm is $1700 plus about $600 for mesh. Add formwork etc and you are close to $3000 without labour.

Cheers
Pulse

[jaypee]

Pulse,

thanks for the information. Sounds like it would be around the same mark as the self levelling products.

Would you recomend the concreting or would you battern it and Particle board over the top?

[boban]

I think your best bet is to get a concretor in to give you a quote.

The self levelling stuff is not for 100mm variances.

Very roughly, you're probably talking about $5,000.

[floobyduster]

Did I miss something? Where is this floor? A shed, workshop or house slab???

Perhaps the solution depends on what is going on top e.g. what is the area going to be used for? That will also determine the value and type of the work to be done :)

[johnc]

Essentially I agree with Boban, but why is there a drop in the first place. Is it to shed water? or has the slab dropped over time. If it has subsided the issue will not fully resolve with a simple topping. On cost it would not be 10m3 of concrete you would have to work out how thick at either end to establish the total quantity.

John.

[jaypee]

Ok, Let me explain

we purchased a house to renovate. It was originally a raised house, you know one of those houses with a top story but no underneath. The slab underneath was obviously poured in a way to allow water to run to the front. When the previous owners then converted underneath to form the rest of the house and thus make it a two storey house they did not level the floor.

The plan is to put carpet on top, the area is a combination of master bedroom, a study, a rumpus and a craft area (for my wife). Hence my thought was to battern and then put T&G particle floor down before I put carpet over the top.

Hope this makes more sense.

[DJ’s Timber]

G'day jaypee

Seeing that you are laying carpet and using it for bedrooms and the like I would just batten and put down flooring sheets
It would probably be cheaper than concrete and would be softer on the old feet than concrete
You just have to make sure that no more water can run thru on the existing concrete and cause rising damp or rotting bearers

Cheers DJ

[Big Mac]

There is a company called URETEK It levels floors by injecting resin under the slab. I have had them give me a quote for levelling our house slab.Not able to tell you quoted price as i left for Sydney a few days after they quoted ,wont be back for a few more days.You can contact them at number below.

Neil

www.uretek.com.au
Phone 1800 623 312
[email protected] (NSW, ACT)

[floobyduster]

It sounds like the original folk may have planned to use the lower area for garaging/storage.

A couple of thoughts:

Depending on budget, you may be able to do it with recycled materials over a period of time yourself (spreads the cost). Pouring concrete is more of a 'one off' job and is by nature "new', and therefore full price. :)

Also, some folk believe there is a big difference in walking on a concrete versus a wooden floor. If you lay a wooden floor it provides a little more flexibilty in laying power and phone cables etc.

You will also need to check if the existing concrete is water proofed etc. You don't want rising damp causing you more problems in the future.

All the best on your solution. Don't forget to post some pics when you get to it.

[Rossluck]

G'day jaypee

Seeing that you are laying carpet and using it for bedrooms and the like I would just batten and put down flooring sheets
It would probably be cheaper than concrete and would be softer on the old feet than concrete
You just have to make sure that no more water can run thru on the existing concrete and cause rising damp or rotting bearers

Cheers DJ

I agree with DJ. We had a slab poured for a pergola area a few years ago, and when we lifted the black plastic covers after three days rain, we discovered that the "concretor" :( :( :( :( :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: had run short of concrete and had dropped the form at one end. We asked a plethora of experts what we could do about it, and we reached the "cover it with timber" option. Many good concretors warned us against a covering layer, saying that it would crack. As it stands, we haven't done anything with it, and one day I'm going for the jackhammer ....

[Dan_574]

Id go withdj and battern and floor it, easy quick and cheaper.

[jaypee]

Hi all

thanks. I probably will lean towards the batterns and particle board flooring. Its a bit of work but in the end a lot cheaper than the alternatives and seeing I will only be putting carpet down should really be the best option.