Self-leveling concrete

The term self-leveling can be traced back to a patent applied by the company Lafarge in 1997.

[2] The term is used to differentiate it from traditional concrete, which is typically stiffer and requires more labor to get into place and finish with a trowel.

An underlayment is installed over an existing subfloor to smooth it out and correct any surface irregularities prior to the installation of all types of floor coverings, including sheet vinyl, vinyl composition tile (VCT), wood, ceramic tile and carpet.

The finishing is then done by lightly breaking the surface tension of the product using a tool called a smoother.

The typical installation thickness of these products is about 1⁄4 inch (6 mm) to ensure there is enough mass present for the material to flow, although some self-leveling products now exist that can be installed at an average thickness of only 1⁄8 inch (3 mm).