Unpopular opinion: Leveling compound is a scam unless you do it right the first time

I spent 3 weekends trying to get my kitchen floor flat in my 1920s bungalow in Portland. Thought I was being careful mixing the stuff, but I kept getting these little ridges and bumps no matter what. Then my neighbor watched me one afternoon and said "you're not using a gauge rake, you're just spreading it like butter." Had to rip up 120 bucks worth of compound and start over. Anyone else learn the hard way that cheap tools cost you time?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia55825d ago

Learned that lesson too, cheap trowels leave ridges you gotta sand flat.

patricialee25d ago

Oh come on, the tools aren't the problem here. I used a basic trowel from the hardware store and my floor came out flat as glass on the first try. Most folks just blame the equipment instead of admitting they rush through the mixing and pouring steps. A proper prep job and patient application will beat expensive specialty tools every time.

anthony_campbell8824d ago

Flat as glass" - my first floor looked like a mountain range, so maybe it WAS the tools after all.