I was dead set against paying $120 for a self-leveling compound... until my basement floor looked like the surface of the moon after three attempts with the cheap stuff

I spent like 6 hours mixing that $15 bag from the big box store and troweling it out, and it still ended up with ridges and trowel marks everywhere. A flooring guy I know in Denver told me the cheap stuff just doesn't flow out right unless you're some kind of pro, and recommended the mid-tier bag from a real supply house. I was skeptical because it's basically just powder and water, right? But I tried it on a small patch in the closet and it leveled itself almost perfectly with barely any work from me. Has anyone else had that experience where spending more on a material actually saves time and frustration?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora101mo ago

Hold your horses there. I tried the expensive stuff first on a 500 square foot slab and it did level itself, but then it cracked like crazy because I didn't realize it needs a specific primer underneath or it'll pull moisture and spiderweb on you. The cheap stuff from the hardware store might take more elbow grease to spread, but you can work it in smaller batches and actually feather out the edges without it setting up like concrete in 10 minutes. The cheap bag is more forgiving if you're a DIYer who isn't running around with a spike roller and a helper, plus you can sand down the high spots without ruining your tools.

olivia_chen351mo ago

Wait, @nora10 you're telling me the expensive stuff cracked like crazy on you? That's wild because I just did a small closet patch and it turned out smooth as glass, but now I'm worried about the bigger area I planned to do next week. Did you use the primer from the same brand or just skip it entirely?