Floor Levelling – SLC

Floor Levelling – SLC

Be it a cosy home environment, or a busy office space, the new cutesy boutique, or a swanky restaurant and even an elaborated hotel lobby; Vinyl floor covering fits to the best of requirements. Only necessity for Vinyl flooring is that it need perfect flat and level floor.

Normally, floor area is casted with concrete having high water-cement ratio for maintaining the flowability and to achieve flat surface. But, addition of excessive water will cause laitance, cracks, segregation, etc. If water is not added, then it is difficult to achieve a workable concrete mix. Architects and Designers have even opted for installing tiles or stones to achieve the level / flatness but this results with joints…

The term self-leveling was coined in the United States by ARDEX, Inc. in 1978 with the first self-leveling product, ARDEX K 15 Premium Self-Leveling Concrete Underlayment. The term SLC was used to differentiate it from traditional concrete, which is typically stiffer and requires more difficult to get it into place and finish with a trowel.

Self Leveling Compounds are polymer-modified cement designed with flowable properties which assures to provide a flat and smooth surface with good compressive strength equal or higher than that of traditional concrete prior to installing floor coverings. Advantageous of SLC is not one, but many like: Strength, fast drying, fast hardening, no water curing, ability to withstand floor heat, seamless in installation, installable at internal / external, etc.

In the flooring world, there has always been a vinyl tile in one form or another. Today, the vinyl tile category continues to be growing market with additional segment with VCT, (Vinyl Composite Tiles) and LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile). In parallel, SLC has become more famous with these floor-covering products as they are thinner and larger in size with need of perfect flat and smooth floor.

ARDEX ENDURA not only provides the SLC, but also provides entire system of product, like: Primers, SLC and Floor Adhesives for floor covering installation including Fast Setting Cementitious Screed to manage more undulated floors. ARDEX ENDURA’s continuous research and development has brought different range of SLC which are termed as underlayment’s like: CL 11,  K 15 and K 80 (SLC for floor coverings) and toppings like: K 301 (which can be left exposed or coated with PU coating / EPOXY coatings).

ARDEX ENDURA developed SCL which can be used at different thickness, on different substrates like porous concrete, dense concrete, glazed tiles and even on stone flooring. When it comes to the substrates like, metal, plywood where Vinyl is to be installed, ARDEX ENDURA provides Latex based SLC which can resist vibration, deflection and movements without cracking.

SLC with high compressive strength, can be used at Ware-houses, Car-park areas, Industrial floorings, to solve the level difference and undulations problem. SLC can be coated with dust-proof coatings or coloured coatings for extended ware / abrasion resistant floor.

ARDEX ENDURA ACADEMY

Our industry, like any other, requires on-going training to keep up with the changes in legislation/standards and materials. Our purpose-built training facility enables us to offer a range of demonstrations and seminars that can be tailored to your specific needs, ensuring total confidence in the specification and subsequent on-site application. The academy allows you to learn about new technologies including ‘Industry best practices for Tiling, Waterproofing, Concrete Repair and Flooring’ along with Technical guidance and product information.

For the latest and most up to date information and advice, visit the ARDEXENDURAacademy centres across India (Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, etc.,). For Flooring Contractors and applicators committed to providing a high level of workmanship, ARDEX ENDURA helps them to increase both their professionalism and productivity.

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