So what is your goto smoothing compound - Tile Advice

[JohnsonL]

Im curious to know what every tilers goto levelling (smoothing ) compound is to get a floor in your eyes perfect for the job.

If you need that glass smooth flat/ level finish what product do you guys use and why?

My interest is purely that, as an experienced floorlayer my company is always screeding floors ready for timber/ Karndean/ Amtico etc and we have our goto products. As I’m doing more and more tiling work myself just thought I’d ask.

From posts I’ve read it seems a lot are fans of tilemaster Level IT mainly for value.

 

[Andy Allen]

Weber floor flex for me..
Great price, can go up to 50mm, and leaves a nice smooth finish..

 

[demi34]

Bal level max it 80mm

 

[Bill]

Tilemaster fine flow 3000 for concrete/cement based subfloors

Tilemaster levelflex for timber subfloors.

I have used Mapei renovation screed too which is good.

 

[Simon Dale]

I think anything with fibres is good. As a vinyl layer you just put 3mm down whereas we tilers level ?

 

[GoneGuy]

I was using setcrete/f ball but starting to use a lot of ultra level it 2

 

[Dumbo]

Level it 2 for wetrooms
Palace thick bed leveller everything else

 

[hmtiling]

Rocatex fibre flow is the best I've used.

 

[One Day]

BAL Level Max for jobs which can wait.
Tilemaster Rapid level 30 for those which can't.

 

[Albert]

Webber floor flex for me

 

[Tommythetiler80]

Tilemaster levelFlex for deep pours
Tilemaster rapid level 30 for impatient people

 

[Qwerty]

Mapei Ultraplan Eco for solid floors
Mapei Renovation screed for ufh or wooden floors

 

[JohnsonL]

I think anything with fibres is good. As a vinyl layer you just put 3mm down whereas we tilers level ?

Is that right?

Nah I know what you mean a lot of floorlayers do only put 3mm down bare minimum but we tend to be putting at least 5mm down if the floor isn’t good.

With vinyl its mainly needs to be smooth as vinyl will lose some unevensss providing its not horrific which does show through if prep not done very well.

Whereas tiling won’t of course. Interested in your statement of “we tilers level”

Getting a floor completely flat level and smooth isn’t easy for your average person and often to obtain that perfect floor through a compound the customer couldn’t afford the latex . Getting a floor flat and smooth is a different thing

 

[Dumbo]

Is that right?

Nah I know what you mean a lot of floorlayers do only put 3mm down bare minimum but we tend to be putting at least 5mm down if the floor isn’t good.

With vinyl its mainly needs to be smooth as vinyl will lose some unevensss providing its not horrific which does show through if prep not done very well.

Whereas tiling won’t of course. Interested in your statement of “we tilers level”

Getting a floor completely flat level and smooth isn’t easy for your average person and often to obtain that perfect floor through a compound the customer couldn’t afford the latex . Getting a floor flat and smooth is a different thing

Customer has to afford it . If you don' level it with levelling compound you have to do it with adhesive . Adhesive and levelling comp cost roughly the same and the same amount of volume is required so why struggle trying to pick it up on adhesive when you spend the same amount on materials if you can level it properly first

 

[Dougs Third Go]

tilemaster or weber for me, but the product is only as good as the person laying it. I make sure I push it all to the corners with a trowel then let it flow back, (in my experience, screeders always seem to have high points in the corners), then tamp it all as I work my way to an exit point,,,sounds a bit vague, but when you've done it for quite a few years (gulp) it's easier done than explained.