How to use Self-Leveling Compound

Question

I am renovating my kitchen, and i have a problem. My house is i don't know exactly how many years old, but I'll just say a lot. The problem is One half of my kitchen is about a half inch higher than the other half. The reason is, some moron before I even bought this house, extended the kitchen but messed but with the joist. He put it lower then the original joist was suppose to be which for some reason, I don't even know why(they look the same from the bottom and the plywood/sheathing on the joist are both the same thickness). So anyways, I was remaking the sub floor because of termite/water damage, and i encountered this c**p. Is there a way I can level this floor with the original one? Do I have to put self-leveling compound right on the floor? Or does it have to be on concrete or something? This floor will have marble tiles on it.

The dimensions for both halves, are nearly 8x8'

Can I use self leveling compound for the entire lower half floor?

Also the floor isn't exactly 1/2" higher, It's a little less.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

    I did this with my kitchen, I run into the same problem. I used level set and used a long 2X4 that was straight. After I leveled it, it came out real good. Right on the 3/4 inch plywood.  

Answer 2

I really would not use self leveling for 1/2" lower floor.Since you will be using marble tiles, I would use durock board, either 5/16", 3/8" thick. If it is still a little lower than the other floor- get a small bag of thinset mortar and trowel it along the lower edge of the existing floor, feather it back to nothing about 12" back, now lay your cement board right down in the thinset and s***w it down.  

Answer 3

  If your having marble tiles (ceramic type) you can pour a self leveling compound using a primer and it ll be fine . The tile setter (you or someone) can then go over it w/ a backer board.Then set tiles.. If using a pure marble ( which I wouldn t in a kitchen setting ) You should have the floor "mudded" a technique thats been around for a hundred years if not more. This is something you don t usually tackle as a 1 st timer.. Floor can be perfectly flat and level this way..It s basically a cement floor thats poured "dry" and is worked into a smooth flat , level service.. GL