Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - leveling a concrete porch
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potterygirl
09-25-09, 08:37 AM
help me - help me! :confused:
my mom has an out building sitting on a concrete slab. slab was poured larger than the building to create an entry porch. there is a low spot on the porch, where rainwater pools and seeps under the bldg. i THINK (operative word) that a self-leveling compound is the way to go, but have never used it.
in addition, she wants to tile the porch once it's leveled.
questions:
1) is self-leveling compound the solution for the low spot?
2) if yes, can we moisture seal the compound and then install tile?
my mom has an out building sitting on a concrete slab. slab was poured larger than the building to create an entry porch. there is a low spot on the porch, where rainwater pools and seeps under the bldg. i THINK (operative word) that a self-leveling compound is the way to go, but have never used it.
in addition, she wants to tile the porch once it's leveled.
questions:
1) is self-leveling compound the solution for the low spot?
2) if yes, can we moisture seal the compound and then install tile?
Pecos
09-25-09, 11:25 AM
The self-leveler may be the answer to fill in a depression, but ideally your porch should have some slope built into it for water runoff. A self leveler will not allow for slope. If you apply it to a sloped area, it will flow downhill to level itself. If your porch has no slope, then water will always find its own level, which may mean it runs back against your building.
You should be able to tile over the self leveler, but if you live in a freeze/thaw area I wouldn't recommend it (and especially if you have no slope). What's the climate like in Arkansas?
You should be able to tile over the self leveler, but if you live in a freeze/thaw area I wouldn't recommend it (and especially if you have no slope). What's the climate like in Arkansas?
potterygirl
09-25-09, 03:41 PM
Pecos... that's what we're trying to accomplish -- level the low spot and create a slight slope to encourage water AWAY from the bldg.
while our overall climate is moderate, we do have a few freeze from december - march.
bought some leveler today, and the package SAYS it's okay to tile over... however, will pass along your word of caution to my mom and let her decide.
while our overall climate is moderate, we do have a few freeze from december - march.
bought some leveler today, and the package SAYS it's okay to tile over... however, will pass along your word of caution to my mom and let her decide.
lefty
09-25-09, 05:44 PM
When I built my sheds, I poured the door landings later -- after the shed slab had cured for a few days. This way I was able to have the landing an inch lower than the floor of the slab, and sloped it away from the slab so water couldn't possible get into the shed.
Low spots in concrete slabs (birdbaths) happen to the best of the concrete contractors at times. They are almost always extremely shallow -- 1/16" or so. Trying to fill that up with a self-leveling mis and have it stick really isn't going to happen.
Best thing to do, since you are planning on tiling the landing, would probably be to just level out the low spot with the mastic when you are putting it down for the tile. (put the mastic on a little thicker in the low spot.)
A word of caution -- is this landing or approach lower than the slab of the outbuilding?? If it is just an extension of the slab, putting tile on it will make that spot higher than the floor of the building. THAT would not be good!
Low spots in concrete slabs (birdbaths) happen to the best of the concrete contractors at times. They are almost always extremely shallow -- 1/16" or so. Trying to fill that up with a self-leveling mis and have it stick really isn't going to happen.
Best thing to do, since you are planning on tiling the landing, would probably be to just level out the low spot with the mastic when you are putting it down for the tile. (put the mastic on a little thicker in the low spot.)
A word of caution -- is this landing or approach lower than the slab of the outbuilding?? If it is just an extension of the slab, putting tile on it will make that spot higher than the floor of the building. THAT would not be good!
potterygirl
09-26-09, 07:20 AM
thanks, lefty, for the additional info. the concrete slab was poured larger than the bldg to create the approach. went out to my mom's last night. she pressured washed the concrete in prep for our work today. in looking and measuring again, we had decided to go with the extra mortar to fill in the low areas.
additionally, we opted to increase the mortar near the bldg and decrease toward the front to create a slope to encourage water run off.
nice to know that our logic is on target.
will post results when the project is finished:D
additionally, we opted to increase the mortar near the bldg and decrease toward the front to create a slope to encourage water run off.
nice to know that our logic is on target.
will post results when the project is finished:D