Put some self levelling floor compound
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Latex-Floor-...nd/invt/154134 down
yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no
towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is used as a
utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x 2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as directed. let it
dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only used the
recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing paddle on an SDS,
mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum
spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious experience
when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really quickly rather than
flowing. According to the pack it was supposed to be workable for 20 mins,
but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at all - the
surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its going to
have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth, doesn't care
about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone had any
ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very hot -
mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm guessing that
this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, & switching off
underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also specifically mentioned not to
add any more water when mixing.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:48:47 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

Put some self levelling floor compound
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Latex-Floor-...nd/invt/154134 down
yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no
towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is used as a
utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x 2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as directed. let it
dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only used the
recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing paddle on an SDS,
mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum
spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious experience
when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really quickly rather than
flowing. According to the pack it was supposed to be workable for 20 mins,
but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at all - the
surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its going to
have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth, doesn't care
about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone had any
ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very hot -
mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm guessing that
this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, & switching off
underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also specifically mentioned not to
add any more water when mixing.

Had a similar problem last year. Started off with bags from Wickes
which didn't flow very well and went off quickly. Didn't have enough
so I bought a couple of bags from TP which worked as you'ld expect.

I rather think that the Wickes ones were old while the TP ones were
fresh, so it may go off with age, like plaster.

Bill

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

Put some self levelling floor compound
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Latex-Floor-...nd/invt/154134 down
yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no
towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is used as
a
utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x 2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as directed. let
it
dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only used
the recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing paddle on an
SDS, mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum
spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious experience
when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really quickly rather than
flowing. According to the pack it was supposed to be workable for 20
mins, but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at all -
the surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its going to
have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth, doesn't care
about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone had
any ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very hot -
mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm guessing that
this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, & switching off
underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also specifically mentioned not to
add any more water when mixing.



I don't know about the Wickes stuff, but having been pointed to F Ball
Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in similar
cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90 minutes.

18-ish quid a bag and York Flooring Supplies sell it along with the P131
neoprene primer that you apply before it.

You could probably use SG 300 over the top of what you have.

Cheers

Tim

Tim S wrote:
The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

Put some self levelling floor compound
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Latex-Floor-...nd/invt/154134 down
yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no
towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is used as
a
utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x 2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as directed. let
it
dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only used
the recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing paddle on an
SDS, mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum
spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious experience
when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really quickly rather than
flowing. According to the pack it was supposed to be workable for 20
mins, but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at all -
the surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its going to
have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth, doesn't care
about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone had
any ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very hot -
mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm guessing that
this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, & switching off
underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also specifically mentioned not to
add any more water when mixing.



I don't know about the Wickes stuff, but having been pointed to F Ball
Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in similar
cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90 minutes.

18-ish quid a bag and York Flooring Supplies sell it along with the P131
neoprene primer that you apply before it.

You could probably use SG 300 over the top of what you have.

Cheers

Tim

I regard manufacturers' explicit instructions as a rough guide. Adding a
little more water in hot weather isn't going to stop it working.

On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:28:08 +0100, Tim S wrote:

... having been pointed to F Ball
Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in
similar cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90
minutes.

Last time I used any was to level a new concrete floor up to a dwarf wall
in a conservatory. The stuff I used 'flowed like water' - right into the
cracks between the concrete and the brickwork :-(

Tim S wrote:
The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

Put some self levelling floor compound
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Latex-Floor-...nd/invt/154134
down yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no
towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is
used as a
utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x
2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as
directed. let it
dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only
used the recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing
paddle on an SDS, mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum
spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious
experience when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really
quickly rather than flowing. According to the pack it was supposed
to be workable for 20 mins, but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at
all - the surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its
going to have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth,
doesn't care about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone
had any ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very
hot - mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm
guessing that this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, &
switching off underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also
specifically mentioned not to add any more water when mixing.



I don't know about the Wickes stuff, but having been pointed to F Ball
Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in
similar cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90
minutes.

18-ish quid a bag and York Flooring Supplies sell it along with the
P131 neoprene primer that you apply before it.

You could probably use SG 300 over the top of what you have.

I rang Wickes today & guess what? Master Latex Floor Levelling Compound is
made by F Ball & they suggested Stopgap Greenbag 128. They have a dealer
just around the corner, so I'm going to ask their advice.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Tim S wrote:
The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

Put some self levelling floor compound
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Latex-Floor-...nd/invt/154134
down yesterday on a concrete garage floor.

Used this stuff before & it works a treat. Spread out with almost no
towelling, really easy to use.

Half the garage has been converted to an office, the other half is
used as a
utility room - lady wanted a smooth floor in the latter. 2.2m x
2.4m.

Followed the destructions to the letter, PVA'd the floor as
directed. let it
dry. Mixed the compound using a measuring jug to make sure I only
used the recommended 4.5 litres of water per bag, used a mixing
paddle on an SDS, mixed for the suggested 2 mins.

Terrible trouble getting it to flow out. Instructions said 'minimum
spreading' with a trowel necessary (that was also my pervious
experience when using it). Seemed to get very viscous really
quickly rather than flowing. According to the pack it was supposed
to be workable for 20 mins, but it seemed to thicken up in minutes.

Job looks like a dogs breakfast. Hasn't self levelled properly at
all - the surface is more or less level, but certainly not flat.

Tried to trowel is out, but it had formed a 'skin' & wouldn't move.

I can sort the surface out with a bit of sanding /filling as its
going to have cushion floor over it & the lady only wants it smooth,
doesn't care about appearance.

I'll call the manufacturers helpline Monday, but wondered if anyone
had any ideas what went wrong?

The only thing I can think of is the weather conditions, it was very
hot - mid 70's and fairly windy (& the garage door was open). I'm
guessing that this caused it to cure too quickly?

Instructions only mentioned a minimum temp of 5 degrees C, &
switching off underfloor heating etc, no max temp and also
specifically mentioned not to add any more water when mixing.



I don't know about the Wickes stuff, but having been pointed to F Ball
Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in
similar cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90
minutes.

Did it flow like the stuff in this video Tim?

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/video_player.asp?vidID=9

Mine didn't :-(


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

PCPaul coughed up some electrons that declared:

On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:28:08 +0100, Tim S wrote:

... having been pointed to F Ball
Stopgap 300 but someone here, I now wouldn't use anything else in
similar cicumstances - it really does flow like water and sets in 90
minutes.

Last time I used any was to level a new concrete floor up to a dwarf wall
in a conservatory. The stuff I used 'flowed like water' - right into the
cracks between the concrete and the brickwork :-(

There is that.

The first time I used it - I made a little wood "dam" to block an opening
that was lower. Thought I had it sussed - only a mm or two gap under the
wood. Bloody SG300 went straight under it!

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:


Did it flow like the stuff in this video Tim?

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/video_player.asp?vidID=9

Mine didn't :-(


Better than that - but I made it up with 5.75l of water (that maximum
according to the data sheet).

The stuff in the video looks like it was probably done with the basic 5l
water - mine moved much quicker.

That green stuff is the P131 primer - I think that helps a lot. It's water
resistant (no suckage) *and* slighty tacky even when dry and seems to help
the bond.

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:


I rang Wickes today & guess what? Master Latex Floor Levelling Compound
is
made by F Ball & they suggested Stopgap Greenbag 128. They have a dealer
just around the corner, so I'm going to ask their advice.


Aha. I don;t know the "green bag" stuff. But www.f-ball.co.uk do have some
very informative datasheets.

I think Wickes rather overdo the "own brand" idea...

Tim S wrote:
The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:


Did it flow like the stuff in this video Tim?

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/video_player.asp?vidID=9

Mine didn't :-(


Better than that - but I made it up with 5.75l of water (that maximum
according to the data sheet).

The stuff in the video looks like it was probably done with the basic
5l water - mine moved much quicker.

Bloody hell! Nothing like the stuff I used - I'm going to check the batch
codes, I reckon it might have been old stock.


That green stuff is the P131 primer - I think that helps a lot. It's
water resistant (no suckage) *and* slighty tacky even when dry and
seems to help the bond.

Cheers



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk