Custom Building Products is the name of the company who produces all of the flooring materials I have used so far. They include the waterproofing membrane, primer and concrete. I want to give a shout out to their technical support hotline at 800-272-8786. Prior to executing each step, I've called and consulted with the technical advisers at Custom. They've always been available, easy to talk to and given me direction and reassurance on how to execute each step. I am so thankful for their availability and assistance!
First I applied the two different coats of waterproofing membrane. Second I applied a primer. Both of these steps were really easy. All I had to do was roll the liquids onto the floor.
Finally, it was time to pour the concrete! I was most excited about this step because I've only done this once before, when I was a kid. I felt pouring concrete would be a great achievement in my DIY experience. Again, the guys at Custom gave me great direction and tips on how to have a successful pour.
I told them I need to raise the floor level between 1/4"-1/2" in a approximately 25 sq ft area. They did some calculations and recommended I use two 50 lb. bags of self leveling concrete. I was really surprised at this but they assured me, this was the right amount of concrete for the job. So I did as they suggested, I went out and bought another 50 lb. bag of concrete.
They also recommended I buy a finishing (flat, non-notched) trowel to help push the concrete into the corners of the floor. They said I could stand in the liquefied concrete for a few minutes before it started to solidify. Again, I followed their instructions and bought a finishing trowel.
I asked about how to keep the concrete from flowing out into the hallway. They recommended weatherstripping. So I did as they suggested. I put down weatherstripping around the perimeter of the floor
They emphasized being prepared for the pour will make it go well. Do all the prepping of the floor, set up the water to mix the concrete with, placed everything close by to the bathroom so I wouldn't have to mill around looking for stuff during the pour. Have everything ready so you won't waste any time during the pour.
I did as I was told. I got everything set up and close by to the bathroom. I poured the water into the bucket and then started pouring the concrete into it. Once it was all in, I started mixing it with my power drill with a mixing paddle attachment and set the timer on my phone for two minutes of mixing. All was going well until I started to get the feeling I'd been mixing for longer than two minutes because my drill started to struggle. I was right! I checked my phone and discovered it had already gone off! I quickly put the drill down and started to pour. It flowed right out. I pushed the concrete into some of the corners and hastily went back to mixing up the second batch.
This second batch went flawlessly. I mixed for exactly two minutes, heard the alarm, poured and then pushed the concrete in all of the corners. It was all going well until I began to notice the concrete was flowing over my weatherstripping! It wasn't tsunami like so I dammed up some spots with a little strip of cardboard and more weatherstripping. It all worked and soon began to solidify.
I cleaned up and left. I came back a few days and I think it turned out great!
First I applied the two different coats of waterproofing membrane. Second I applied a primer. Both of these steps were really easy. All I had to do was roll the liquids onto the floor.
The waterproof membrane
Finally, it was time to pour the concrete! I was most excited about this step because I've only done this once before, when I was a kid. I felt pouring concrete would be a great achievement in my DIY experience. Again, the guys at Custom gave me great direction and tips on how to have a successful pour.
I told them I need to raise the floor level between 1/4"-1/2" in a approximately 25 sq ft area. They did some calculations and recommended I use two 50 lb. bags of self leveling concrete. I was really surprised at this but they assured me, this was the right amount of concrete for the job. So I did as they suggested, I went out and bought another 50 lb. bag of concrete.
They also recommended I buy a finishing (flat, non-notched) trowel to help push the concrete into the corners of the floor. They said I could stand in the liquefied concrete for a few minutes before it started to solidify. Again, I followed their instructions and bought a finishing trowel.
I asked about how to keep the concrete from flowing out into the hallway. They recommended weatherstripping. So I did as they suggested. I put down weatherstripping around the perimeter of the floor
They emphasized being prepared for the pour will make it go well. Do all the prepping of the floor, set up the water to mix the concrete with, placed everything close by to the bathroom so I wouldn't have to mill around looking for stuff during the pour. Have everything ready so you won't waste any time during the pour.
I did as I was told. I got everything set up and close by to the bathroom. I poured the water into the bucket and then started pouring the concrete into it. Once it was all in, I started mixing it with my power drill with a mixing paddle attachment and set the timer on my phone for two minutes of mixing. All was going well until I started to get the feeling I'd been mixing for longer than two minutes because my drill started to struggle. I was right! I checked my phone and discovered it had already gone off! I quickly put the drill down and started to pour. It flowed right out. I pushed the concrete into some of the corners and hastily went back to mixing up the second batch.
This second batch went flawlessly. I mixed for exactly two minutes, heard the alarm, poured and then pushed the concrete in all of the corners. It was all going well until I began to notice the concrete was flowing over my weatherstripping! It wasn't tsunami like so I dammed up some spots with a little strip of cardboard and more weatherstripping. It all worked and soon began to solidify.
I cleaned up and left. I came back a few days and I think it turned out great!
Dried concrete floor
The floor turned out level and did not flow any further. I did it! I successfully poured one hundred pounds of concrete! Thank you Custom Building Products!
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