When Your Slab Needs Ardex Self-Leveling Underlayment
Uneven concrete slabs stop finish flooring from going down flat. Ardex self-leveling underlayment corrects the slab to the tolerance your tile, plank, or polish installer needs. Regina Concrete applies the bonded primer system and pours to spec. Free written estimate.
A slab that waves or dips cannot be hidden by tile, plank, or polish. The finish flooring contractor will see the variation and refuse to install until the substrate is flat. Ardex self-leveling underlayment is the engineered concrete product that brings the slab to the flatness spec the finish requires.
The Ardex system starts with a bonded primer that locks the new pour to the existing slab. Without that primer bond, the SLU will delaminate and fail. We install as an Ardex-system contractor, meaning every step from prep through cure follows Ardex specification. The result is a substrate ready for the next trade.
Our Ardex waterproofing work pairs with SLU when moisture is a concern, and we coordinate with warehouse floor coating projects that need a flat base before epoxy goes down.
Recent work
The sequence
How Ardex SLU Installation Unfolds in Regina
Measure the slab variation
We laser-scan the existing slab to find high and low spots, calculate the depth needed to bring the floor to the finish-flooring tolerance, and confirm the plan with the tile or plank installer before we start.
Prep and prime the concrete
The slab is diamond-ground to remove contaminants and achieve the Ardex prep profile. The matched Ardex primer is then rolled across the entire floor to create the bond layer that locks the SLU to the existing concrete.
Pour and gauge the SLU
Ardex SLU is mixed to the exact water ratio, poured across the floor, and gauge-raked to the target depth. The material self-levels to a flat plane within a narrow time window, so the crew moves with purpose.
Cure and hand off
The pour cures on the Ardex schedule. Once cured, the final flatness is verified against the finish spec, and the slab is handed to the tile, plank, or polish crew ready for their install.
Planning ahead
Schedule Self-Leveling Into the Build
The best SLU projects are planned from the start, not added as a last-minute fix. We coordinate with the finish-flooring contractor early, agree on the target tolerance, and schedule the pour into the sequence so the next trade can move in on time.
If the project also needs Ardex repair for spalls or cracks, or basement waterproofing below grade, we spec those into the same Ardex system so all the work is compatible.
Bonded primer, tolerance specs, depth ranges and coordination with finish trades.
Ardex offers SLU products that can feather to extremely thin edges (essentially a few mil) and pour up to substantial depths for major tolerance correction. Product choice depends on the tolerance and project; we spec from the Ardex range.
Yes, critically. The Ardex primer is what bonds the SLU to the existing concrete. Without it, the SLU delaminates over time. Skipping or substituting the primer voids the Ardex system warranty.
Sometimes, with the matched Ardex polishable or top-coated overlay product. Most projects use SLU as substrate for tile, plank, or another finish; using it as the finish itself requires a different product spec.
Foot traffic typically the same day or next; finish-flooring install usually waits longer for the SLU to cure and dry to the finish spec. The cure schedule is in the project handoff.
Cost depends on depth, area, and existing slab condition. We provide a written quote based on the actual project; budget guidance can be discussed during the assessment.
They prep with Ardex primer like the spec calls for, not a generic primer. SLU bonds properly, my tile install goes in on a flat substrate. The Ardex-system difference is real.
Z. T5
Tile Contractor, Regina
★★★★★
Coordinated the SLU pour with my schedule, agreed the target tolerance up front, hit it on the pour. My plank install ran without complaint. Trade coordination at its best.
Y. T5
Finish Floor Installer, Regina
★★★★★
Three different substrate areas with different tolerance issues, three different Ardex SLU products specced. Each one matched the conditions; the finish-flooring went over each cleanly.
Q. T5
GC, Emerald Park
★★★★★
Tight feather-edge work at door thresholds where standard SLU would not work. They used the right Ardex product, feather edge held, no telegraph through the finish.
X. T5
Custom Home Builder, White City
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Describe the slab area, the finish flooring planned, and the tolerance target. We will spec the right Ardex product and send a written quote within one business day.
