Chris Lewis wrote:
Thanks for the second opinion. According to the Quikrete website the
'fast-settings' version should be good after 24 hours (and it even
mentioned that you can walk on it after 6!). But I figured that must be
a best-case-scenario for outdoors work. I'm sure being inside will slow
down the curing -- but weeks sounded a bit much.


Do realize that Quickrete's numbers are for setting of the material so
that you can walk on it. Ordinary concrete achieves about 95% of
its strength in a few days (less with quickset types), but the curing
process continues for much longer. Ie: a month.

Ah, ok now I see where my lack of base knowledge comes in. This makes
sense.


Of course, if Chris' goal was to frighten me away from the project, well
consider the warning heeded. It's looking more and more like something
that will be done sometime over the next few years instead of next few
weeks.


I didn't mean to do that. It just sounded like you had a generally
uneven (rather than spot-uneven) floor, where at least hearing what a
couple of contractors who actually _saw_ your situation would suggest
would help you decide what to do. If it's just a few square feet you
need to level, that's a different ballgame.

My remarks about long wait times is meant in this way: you get the floor/spots
releveled. You'll be able to _use_ the floor in a day or two at most. But
I recommend waiting a month or more before putting a floor covering on it.

Two steps with a fair length of time between is simply what I suggest.

As for spot-uneven vs generally uneven...that will be a mystery until
the carpet is up. It *feels* generally uneven, and the unfinished
utility area is fairly wavey. As for the two steps with a good bit of
time in between... Well, the area is already finished and will be the
new home office (I work exclusively from home) when we move in. I was
hoping the flooring good be done in the six weeks between closing and
when our current lease is up. But I'll just wait a year or so, then
move the office temporarily into the living room or guest room maybe
while I give the floor plenty of time to set.

In any case, I admit I was getting a little ahead of myself. It would
be nice to get that done before I move everything in, but I think I've
talked my wife into putting some money into a really nice refridgerator
instead. I can live with that.

-david