With the right tools and knowledge, you can level the concrete slab so it is even and level throughout.
Things You Will Need
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Don safety goggles and gloves to protect you from tiny bits of flying cleaner you may encounter.
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Clean the concrete slab with a concrete chemical cleaner. Scrub the cleaner into the concrete, removing dirt, grime or oil that may reside on the surface with a scrub brush. Allow the cleaner to sit on the concrete slab for up to 30 minutes – or as directed on package label – to etch the top-most surface of the concrete so the bonding agent will adhere properly.
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Wash the concrete cleaner away with a pressure washer. Rinse the slab until it is free from cleaner residue.
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Build a wooden frame surrounding the perimeter of the concrete slab to keep the self-leveling compound from flowing off. Use 2-by-8 lumber boards, nailed together using the hammer and 2-inch nails. Spray the inside of the wood boards with vegetable oil. The oil allows you to remove the wooden frame without it sticking to the self-leveling compound.
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Insert wooden stakes into the ground every 2 feet on the outside of the wooden frame. The stakes will hold the frame in place and prevent it from shifting.
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Dilute the concrete bonding agent with water according to the package instructions. Apply the agent to the concrete slab evenly with a long-handled paintbrush. Product directions will vary depending upon the brand of the agent.
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Read the water/self-leveling mix ratio indicated on the instructions. Pour the recommended amount of water into the 5-gallon bucket, and slowly pour the indicated amount of self-leveling concrete compound to the bucket.
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Mix the two together with a mixing hook attached to a power drill. Consistency of the self-leveling compound should be lump-free and pourable, resembling a milkshake.
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Pour the self-leveling compound onto the sloped area of the concrete slab, starting at one corner and pouring outward. Allow the compound to spread out and level on its own.
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Feather the edges of the compound smooth with the rest of the concrete slab with the flat side of a trowel. Work quickly since the self-leveling compound will set quickly. You commonly have a 10- to 20-minute range when the compound is workable before it starts to harden. Let the self-leveling compound dry and harden for the stated amount of time.
The Drip Cap
- Regular wear and tear, severe fluctuating weather conditions and improperly preparing the ground before a concrete pour can result in a sloping concrete slab.
- Scrub the cleaner into the concrete, removing dirt, grime or oil that may reside on the surface with a scrub brush.
- The oil allows you to remove the wooden frame without it sticking to the self-leveling compound.
- Insert wooden stakes into the ground every 2 feet on the outside of the wooden frame.
- Pour the self-leveling compound onto the sloped area of the concrete slab, starting at one corner and pouring outward.
- Work quickly since the self-leveling compound will set quickly.