Don't do it yourself project.

[Bonibelle]

I am up to my elbows in this stuff called embossing leveler. :-/ Apparently we had a slow leak in one of our toilets, so we removed the toilet, repaired the damaged underlayment and prepared to install a new sheet vinyl floor. I thought the easiest way would be to cover over the old sheet vinyl, but to first use this leveling stuff so that the old pattern wouldn't transfer to the new material. I guess (oh I am sure of it) there is a technique to "feathering" this stuff so that the floor is nice and smooth...Does anyone know how to do this? I have tried mixing the leveler to different consistancies but when it dries I can still tell where I started and stopped. This stuff is made of portland cement so it dries really fast..which hasn't helped either.

Thanks for any suggestions

Boni

[tommy tunes]

I used it when I redid our kitchen floor a few years back.  You don't have to thin it, just trowel it out to fill in the pattern.  Feathering is basically dragging it out until it drags no more (gets real thin).  and make sure you're using a trowel, don't try doing this with a 6in putty knife or anything like that.  Just pour it out a little at a time and start moving it with your trowel at about a 45 degree angle.  Work small areas, about 3 x 3 feet, and you'll be fine!  

[Bonibelle]

Thanks Tommy, maybe I am obsessing too much but I thought it had to be perfectly smooth, I can see little trowl lines (I even bought a new trowel today). I guess since I am not great at drywall, I should have realized I wouldn't do such a good job with this!! :-/

[96SC]

If your worried about the texture of the original vinyl showing through, why don't you just take it off and put the new vinyl on the subfloor?  Of course if you have a large area or a lot of heavy hard to move articles on the original vinyl it may end up being easier to use the 'goop'.

Just a thought.

[Bonibelle]

I put down the first floor on top of luan underlayment. It is NOT coming up..believe me I tired. It wasn't worth the fight. Even if I got the vinyl up, I would have to remove the adhesive...with nasty chemicals.  I am thinking of a great invention...this leveling stuff in colors, just slosh it on and you have a new floor...

[drewstar]

I put down the first floor on top of luan underlayment. It is NOT coming up..believe me I tired. It wasn't worth the fight. Even if I got the vinyl up, I would have to remove the adhesive...with nasty chemicals.  I am thinking of a great invention...this leveling stuff in colors, just slosh it on and you have a new floor...

At this rate bonnie, by the time you get down leveling the floor, you wont be able to stand up in the room. it will be 3 feet shorter.    

My dad used the stuff once and he just skimmed it on easy-japenesey.   ??

Luan is great, but can screw up you baseboard and jams.  

[anne]

I have been doing uber amounts of research lately for my upcoming kitchen remodel, and I just started looking into floors. I may be wrong here, but I thought that that levelling stuff would not adhere well to an existing vinyl floor, and that it should be put down only onto the cement or subfloor once the old vinyl is up......I could be totally wrong.....

[Bonibelle]

Anne, there are two types of leveling compounds. One is to fill and level the subfloor. The other is made to level the embossing of vinyl so that you don't have to remove it. It has a portland cement base, and an additive (smells like ammonia)that makes it stick really well.  Hopefully, after all of this, it won't come up..I am going to lay the floor today..we'll see. :-/

[autoplay]

I have been doing uber amounts of research lately for my upcoming kitchen remodel, and I just started looking into floors. I may be wrong here, but I thought that that levelling stuff would not adhere well to an existing vinyl floor, and that it should be put down only onto the cement or subfloor once the old vinyl is up......I could be totally wrong.....

I do strictly Tile and Stone,and don't touch the other areas as far as floors.

It's extremely important to have a good bond,and from the sounds of it,you're using an acrylic additive in the self leveling compound.  After it has dried,you can tap on it,and listen for "hollow" spots. If it sounds solid,you're good to go! Only exception to that is,the deflection of the subfloor underneath. That's a variable too,which I can't help ya with without looking at it.

On a side note,I NEVER go over vinyl,I prefer to pull/strip it,as it's peace of mind for me,when I sleep at night. 99% of my work is new homes,so I rarely/never deal with it.  Others will tell ya it's ok to go over vinyl,and make bonding products for such. I personally prefer not to.

[Bonibelle]

OK, Auto, I bounced up and down all over my embossing stuff...it is solid as a rock. I will just hope with all that adhesive goop, it will keep it stable. Wish I could do tile in there, but right now it doesn't fit in the budget and I have NO experience with that...and I can't handle the backer board or cut it... just too old, too weak!   :-/