How to Level a Concrete Floor that Slopes | How Much Floor Slope is Acceptable
How to Level a Concrete Floor that Slopes | How Much Floor Slope is Acceptable
Many home buyers and homeowners often can notice that their floor is sloping, sagging or not leveled but they’re not sure and do not know how much it is sloping. It is important to determine the level of slope ness as this could be serious things that affects the entire structure. It is important to know how much the floor is sloping, where it is sloping (one room, a hallway, or the whole house) and in what direction.
The common tools that can be used to check includes:
- Laser level
- Laser Flashlight
- Laser measuring device
- Phone level Apps
How to Level a Concrete Floor that Slopes
- Put on protective gear (PPE) to protect you from concrete and chemical spills you may encounter.
- Thoroughly clean the surface floor to be concreted with chemical cleaner and ensure that all grime, dirt, or oil that may be on the surface is removed with a scrub brush.
- Install a wooden frame surrounding the perimeter of the area that needs to be concreted to keep the concrete that could be a self-leveling mixture from flowing off. You can use 2 inches by 8 inches lumber boards and nail together with a hammer and 2-inch nails. Apply the inside of the wood boards with an oil layer as this will allows you to remove the wooden frame boards without them sticking to the concrete.
- Measure the level of slope level that is required. For instance , take the measurements of the distance from the lowest point of the concrete floor to the perimeter or edge and add 1/4-inch for every foot. If you want a steeper slope, take this into account and add more to each foot to achieve your goal. This is going to be the highest point of the floor when applying the mixture. Keep in mind that sand mix should only be applied in layers that range from 1/2 to 2 inches for optimal results.
- Fix wooden stakes to the ground at every 2 feet on the outside of the wooden frame board as these stakes will ensure that the wooden frame is held in place and prevent it from shifting.
- Mix the concrete components together with a bonding agent with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (Always read the water/concrete mix ratio indicated on the instructions.) The consistency of the self-leveling mixture should be lump-free and pourable, resembling a milkshake.
- Pour the self-leveling compound onto the concrete slab’s sloped area, starting at one corner and pouring outward. Allow the mixture to spread out and level on its own.
- Pour the concrete mixture into the concrete slab evenly with a long-handled paintbrush. Product application instruction will vary depending upon the brand of the agent.
- Smoothen the compound’s edges with the rest of the concrete slab with the flat side of a trowel. Work quickly since the self-leveling mixture will set quickly. You commonly have a 10- to the 20-minute range when the compound is workable before it starts to harden. Let the self-leveling mix dry and harden for the stated amount of time.
How much floor slope is acceptable
Civil Engineers, Warranty Companies, Builders, and Insurance companies all know how much of a slope is acceptable. However, the most commonly used slope level is a 1/2 inch in every 20 feet to 1 inch in 20 feet and depends on who is providing the slope levels. Usually, they say if a floor is sloping over a 1/2 to 1 inch in twenty feet, then there is a concern.
Again small slope variance caused by normal shrinkage of materials due to drying after construction is excluded from the statutory warranty. But a floor in rooms sloped greater than the acceptable performance shall be repaired. This item refers to the entire floor surface in rooms.
Where a floor is framed with an engineered floor system, minor slope variations caused by the required camber in the long-spanned joists supporting the floor are excluded from the statutory warranty. Floors that slope 2 or 3 inches in 20 feet would be a grave concern.
Another consideration, regardless of the amount of slope, is whether there is structural damage in the home or only cosmetic damage.
How do you fix the slope on a shower floor?
Sufficient drainage in a shower or bathroom is important to preventing problems that comes with stagnant water when the shower is being used. It also reduces the moisture levels in the bathroom when the water source is off or not being used. Constant moisture on the floor of the shower becomes a problem when the slope is not sufficient and can lead to issues with mildew and molds.
Bathroom floor slope to drain
To have an efficiently drainage on the bathroom floor, there is a recommended slope for the floor is about 1/2 inch drop per every 12 inches or 4 % from the shower walls to the bathroom drain. in typical tile bathroom floor fixing, this slope is established in the mortar pre-pan. The only exception to a minimum elevation change of 1/2 inch drop per every 12 inches is when someone with limited mobility will be using the shower. If this is the case, the shower floor should have a slope no greater than 1/4 inch vertical drop per 12 or horizontal inches or 2 percent .
