Spent $45 on a self-leveling compound for my first big ceiling job and it saved my back big time

I always used to mix the cheap stuff by hand and try to feather out the bumps with extra thin coats. Took forever and my arms would be dead after one room. Finally grabbed a bag of the premium self-leveling stuff from the lumber yard for my last living room ceiling patch. It was like $45 for a 50lb bag vs $22 for the regular stuff. Poured it out and watched it find its own flat spots in like 15 minutes. Had to go back over two low spots with a little extra but the finish was way smoother than anything I ever did by hand. Only thing is you gotta commit to mixing the whole bag at once or it sets up weird. Anyone else try the pricey leveler on a ceiling and have it work out?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sandra9d ago

That 15 minute window where it sets up, how precise did you have to be with the timing? I tried a bag once and got nervous when it started thickening up faster than I expected, ended up with a couple of ridges I had to sand down. Did you use a primer or anything underneath to help it flow better, or just poured it straight onto the old drywall?

west.claire10d ago

Made the switch myself last year doing a basement ceiling and it was night and day difference, never going back to hand mixing for big jobs. That self-leveling stuff is worth every extra penny when you see it smooth out like glass without the elbow grease.