self levelling compound grrrr!

[brimic]

Is this stuff for real or somebody's idea of a really bad joke?

I needed to level out an area in my basement today so I could later start laying laminate flooring. The depression was about 1/8- 1/4" deep and about 6' wide. I mixed up a couple of buckets of self levelling compound per directions, wet the concrete down real good, poured the stuff and was left with a thick sandy lump that spread about 6" beyond the pour with a thick edge to it. I ended up taking a float to the crap in order to spread it and feather the edges in hopes that I haven't done more harm than good. FWIW, I might as well have mixed up a soupy batch of mortar and thrown it on the floor, I would have know what to expect and it wouldn't have cost me a fraction as much to do

[280plus]

One thing I learned over the years. Education ALWAYS seems to cost something...

[Preacherman]

I was taught that the best way to level out a hollow in the floor was to chisel out the edges and remove the concrete or cement, so as to leave a hollow that could be filled with fresh concrete/cement.  This could then be leveled to the existing edges much more easily.  I've done this a couple of times, and it seemed to work OK.

[brimic]

One thing I learned over the years. Education ALWAYS seems to cost something...

Isn't that the truth, another costly learning experience was the Wagner power painter, I had to make up new colorful words to describe it. I should have a PhD in something by now.

Thanks for the tip Preacherman.

[280plus]

Yea, I've always regarded those Wagners with suspicion. They make it look WAY too easy in the commercials. I imagine it had clogging problems?

[brimic]

I imagine it had clogging problems?

It had that problem, then a more severe problem after it was punted across my basement for clogging 5 times in the first 10 minutes of use.

[280plus]

LMAO...

I have a friend who has problems with his cellphone like that.

You have to pretty much water the paint down to nothing for those things.