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How to Use Self Leveling Floor Compound (I Messed Up!) | Mapei Self Leveler Plus DIY

The Excellent Laborer

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In this video, I’ll show you how to use self leveling floor compound. The floor leveler is Mapei Self leveler Plus. Whether you're leveling a floor for the first time or just need a refresher, this DIY guide will walk you through it step-by-step.

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Timestamps
Intro 00:00
Check Floor Level 00:23
Damming Up Floor 02:40
Prepping Floor 04:41
Priming Floor 05:30
Floor Leveler Mixing and Application 08:15
Fixing Issue 12:21
Floor Installation 18:14

Disclaimer: This video is all based on my personal opinion and is for entertainment purposes ONLY. I am not a financial advisor, CPA, attorney, tax advisor, electrician, plumber, housing contractor, designer, or any type of profession to give advice. I am just a consumer sharing my experiences and research. If you do need knowledge for those types of things, I will advise you to seek help from those professionals.

20 Comments

@TheExcellentLaborer Creator 1 year ago Pinned

Hey! Get access to ALL my DIY courses and downloads — just $5/month!
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@mattstolton8141 1 year ago

Mixing the self leveller at a lower speed will reduce air bubbles, also use a spiked roller after pouring to remove the air bubbles, they are a game changer 👍

@rayndalrenfrow 2 weeks ago

Prolly the best DIY channel on YouTube because he shows the issues he runs into. Yes this can be your profession but if you are an all around handyman like this guy, you don’t do this exact job everyday so there’s always a learning curve.

@liveyourbestlife1878 3 months ago

“Real nice, Clark 👌🏻” 😅😅😅

@EricBeck 1 year ago

Josh is consistently the BEST in providing thorough, detailed, well-spoken and well-shot explanations.

@csimatthew1 1 month ago

I just applied the Primer T. This is probably the best step by step process for applying Mapei Primer T and Self-Leveler out there.

@kareng2281 1 year ago (edited)

About to do my first, and probably last, floor levelling. Have a laser level but didn't understand how to use it to check floor levels. Thanks! Another video recommended going over wet compound on floor with a spiked roller to get rid of air bubbles.

@maintenancebynathan7729 1 year ago

Hey Josh! Another great video. Love how you claim the mistakes. So much respect for that. I've been there with floor leveler. 5 quarts has never been enough. Thin it out to where it flows and really self levels. A garden rake, not a leaf rake, helps a lot. Air bubbles are from mixing it on too high (RPM) speed. Tap the bucket with a 2x4 before you dump it. Our last job was seven bags. You have to be focused to get it right. Definitely prime the sub floor regardless if it is concrete or wood. I believe the primer keeps the sub floor from drawing the water out of the leveler which causes a rapid set. Have never had a problem with a (too) wet mix setting up. Keep making vids. Thanks from Butler PA.

@blackfender100 1 year ago

Excellent video. I'm attempting to level a plywood floor at an area where three bedrooms meet. This helped me a lot. Thanks so much. Joe D

@300blackout33 1 year ago

Great video, Josh. Thank you!
I like to figure out how many bags and mix them all up in a trash barrell and pour the whole floor in one wack. There is no troweling or feathering, it levels itself.
PRO TIP: Use the correct amount of water per the manufacturer.

@Unclegrumpy4880 1 year ago

I’m starting my bathroom next week and look what popped up!

@AnonymousAnomalous 1 year ago

I've always had trepidation about using floor leveler. It always seemed like such a massive undertaking. After watching your video (and a handful of others,) I'm thinking it's a very doable project. Been wanting to remodel my bathroom, and now I'll probably give it a shot. Thx for all the great tips on this video and over the years!

@joeyfmd 6 months ago

I live in a condo. The person above me used this stuff. It went through the seam between prestressed concrete floor panels. The installer never knew the stuff was dripping down my walls where it met the seam. It went everywhere on the top of the drywall ceiling in the hallway.

@halfcenturytruck 1 year ago

Thanks for this. Mapei has a huge range of self levelling compounds, but this seems the most basic

@mak611 1 year ago

best explanation on topic of floor leveling. thank you

@patricktcrowe 1 year ago

Thanks for talking about undiluted primer on wood substrate

@jrmmudlover 4 months ago (edited)

I just used self leveler in a 100 sq ft room and this video was so helpful! Every DIY project I do has mistakes and setbacks so it’s nice to see a video where it’s not done perfectly but it’s done well. There’s too much content out there that over explains the methodology and makes it hard to discern what points actually matter.

Just to echo what others have said, self leveler is a race against time so it’s worth it to plan in advance how you’re going to keep that leveler flowing. I did it by myself which— I wouldn’t recommend lol— but having my mix-and-pour plan in place was the secret to success.