Wasted $150 on a 'self-leveling' mortar mix that was NOT self-leveling at all

I was doing a big floor tile job in my own basement last month and figured I'd save time with that rapid-set self-leveling stuff. Read the bag wrong, mixed it too thick, and ended up with a lumpy mess I had to chip out with a chisel over 2 days. Total waste of money and half a weekend. Anyone else get burned by a product that didn't do what it said?

2 comments

2 Comments

west.claire3d agoMost Upvoted

I used to think self-leveling mix was foolproof. Told my buddy it was the easy button for floors. Then I did an 8x10 laundry room with this same stuff. Mixed it by the book, even used a gauge rake. Still came out like a frozen lake with bad bumps. Had to grind it down with a cup wheel. Took twice as long as just doing mud. Never again.

the_andrew3d ago

You ever mix pancake batter and think, "Yeah, this is the perfect thickness for my basement floor"? Because that's basically what I did. @west.claire you're dead on - that "frozen lake with bad bumps" is the best description I've heard. I swear the bag has fine print that says "may require a jackhammer and a therapist." Mine looked like a relief map of the Rockies after I was done.