Priming Before Self Leveling

I know some of that but I’ve heard about self-leveling primer I’ve been wondering what is it all about and how is it being used in this study we’re going to be having detailed information on how I can be able to use primer on self-leveling. And the areas that they are needed most, the facts are primer is an integral part of floor leveling.

Leveling underlayment primers

There are various types of  primer that you can get in the market: 

• Home Depot
• Mapei

These are companies that produce these primers and most of them have different varieties of primers that you can choose from.

Functions of a Primer

Primer has this three things that it does for the self leveler

• Flow: Primer help the self-leveling compound (Mixed) move freely.
• Bond: Bonding is very important for self-leveling and primers do a great job in helping out the underlayment to bond wait will self leveler
• Cure: Proper Curing is important for self-leveling to avoid problems that show up after the work is done.
• Waterproof: This is most important when pouring self-leveler on timber.

Wood floor priming before self-leveling

The main aim of priming wood before pouring the self-leveling compound is to protect the wood from the water that is in the self-leveling mixture that is already mixed, from soaking up the wood. 

And due to the nature of the wood it will swell up at the moment of doing the self-leveling later on (like months after) it will begin to shrink back due to the water has dried up and this will cause the self-leveled wood to crack and damage and this can also affect the overlay (like tile) if there is any. 

Timber preparation before priming

Sanding: it is important to sand off all the areas where the primer will be applied

Cleaning of the wood: due to the fact there might be some dirt on the floor, dirt like oil grease, or any stain that the floor has acquired over time, you will have to use a detergent or any solution. 

Self-leveling primers for wood floor

It is no new thing that self-leveling compounds come with their own primer so depending on the leveler that you purchase you will have their primer too.

No matter the self-leveler that you are going to use make sure that you get the correct primer for the project

Does primer waterproof the wood floor 

Absolutely, is always recommended that you primer your wood before self-leveling so that the primer can waterproof the wood from the water that is in the mixed compound. 

Priming of a concrete floor or slab

Just like the functions of primers that are listed above, primer helps in the free flow of mixed self-lever. And also the concrete floor has open pores that will absorb water and obstruct the free flow of the leveler

How to prime a concrete floor

• First, you must know the underlayment condition. If the substrate is porous or not porous. For a substrate that is porous, you will need to dilute the primer with water and then apply it so that the primer can go deeply inside the concrete slab, But if the case is non-porous you can apply the primer undiluted.
• Next use the water droplet test to know how absorbent the concrete is. Using an eye drop, take a little water and drop it on the floor that you are going to work on then wait and see the amount of time it took to dry up. Usually, it will take not more than 30 seconds to dry up, confirming that the concrete is porous.
• Due to the fact seen that the concrete is porous, you will have to dilute the primer in water using a 1:3 ratio, 1= primer, and 3= water
• At this moment you pour the primer on the concrete slab, then using a paint roller you spread the primer all over the place that you want self-level.   

Does primer waterproof the Concrete floor 

Primer acts as waterproof protection for concrete, somehow the reason for priming the concrete slab or floor is different from the wood. Due to the fact that concrete absorbs a lot of water. 

• If a concrete floor is not primer it will consume a lot of mixed compounds during self-leveling. 

Quantity of primer to apply on a Concrete slab

The quantity of primer totally leans on if the underlayment is porous or not porous. But as a matter of fact, most concrete is porous. This will require the primer to be adulterated with water. With the ratio of 1:3.

Another thing to consider is the size of the place you are going to carry out your work.

Primer application for gypsum

This is almost the exact method for concrete will some slight twists because gypsum is a very porous substrate. After carrying out the water drop test that resulted in 15 seconds of water drying time.

The application of primer to gypsum is different in the ratio and in the number of times to apply the primer.

This process requires double coating with the primer: 

The first coating is done when a primer is diluted with a ratio of 1:4, 1= Primer, and 4= Water; is poured and worked into the substrate and allowed to dry.

Second coating: this requires a primer diluted with water at a ratio of 1:2. And it is poured and spread on the floor 

List of primers for gypsum

• Primer Sherwin Williams
• Zinsser drywall pro
• Based Plaster primer 20l

Self-leveling compound without primer

This is totally not possible because underlayments are totally porous, some have the opinion that there some floor levelers are semi-porous and non-porous. Due to the fact that problems with self-leveling concrete will increase if the primer is not applied. 

Do I need a primer for self-leveling admixture

Primers are important for self-leveling, it impossible to achieve the desired result if you do not prime the underlayment before pouring the self-leveler, you are in for a big problem.

Should I primer concrete before self Levelling?

It is very important because it helps in bonding and avoiding cracks caused by the loss of water through underLayment

How long does self-leveling take to dry?

self-leveling concrete takes up to 2 or 3 hours for it to be completely dry and at the moment you can be able to work on it or you can call it light traffic going on top of it and you can be able to lay tiles on top of it and in 16 hours time or 24 hours time you can lay woods on top of it

How long should concrete primer dry

The average dry time of a primer is 45 minute. You can know if it is completely dry is well you touch the floor and it is not tacky

what happens if you don’t primer be self-leveling?

The floor will be overlaid with a water-soaked leveler, causing the wood gradually swell. It will shrink back down when it dries, perhaps causing fractures in the flooring. To facilitate appropriate settings, the primer keeps moisture within the self-leveling underlayment.

It functions as an adhesive solvent, ensuring that the SLU is adequately bonded to the substrate.