Self Levelling Compound

Can you use self-levelling compound over chipboard?

I would be very nervous about applying cheaper cement-based self-levelling compounds that you mix with water on chipboard. The chipboard floor covering will start to absorb the moisture from the self-levelling compound mix, causing it to swell and blow.

Very Important: Cement-based self-level also has no flexibility once it sets, so if it is on a 1st floor and there is slight movement in the floor, it will crack.

Solution:

You can apply Ardex NA directly to chipboard which is latex based. It comes with a bag of levelling compound and a tub of latex. So there is no need to add any water or measure anything out!

Check the Ardex NA reviews on Amazon

Coverage: Approximately 5m2 at 3mm thick per unit.

The Latex will not absorb into the chipboard but it will still create a strong bond. The latex in the mixture gives the self-levelling compound some increased flexibility. This means it can be applied where there might be some movement in the subfloor, making it perfect for a conventional timber joist floor with chipboards laid on top.

Arditex NA on chipboard

Unlike most self-levelling compounds, you can use Arditex NA directly onto the chipboard without the need for a primer. This cuts out a full step in the process, saving you time and money. Arditex NA is mixed with a tub of latex rather than water, so it will not soak into the chipboard. There is no need to buy an expensive self-levelling compound primer, However, there are still some minimum requirements that the floor must meet, read below ↓↓

The surface of the subfloor must be sound and free from dust, plaster droppings, grease, paint, polish and any water-softenable or loosely adhered materials. Any remaining adhesive residues should be checked to ensure that they are not water-softenable and that they are hard, sound and have sufficient cohesive strength to receive a levelling compound.

All manufacturers by law, produce a product data-sheet, so it is always best to read this, before buying any self-levelling product. The Arditex NA data sheet is given below.

Check out the datasheet for more information about Ardex Arditex NA

One of the best things about Arditex NA is you can apply it almost anywhere, without giving too much consideration to the subfloor. Floor coverings vary a lot and it is great to have one product that can be applied anywhere. Providing the floor is clean dry and sound it can even be applied over Bitumen and tiles.

For a full list of suitable applications for Arditex NA self-levelling compound, I have included a link to the Ardixtex NA Manufacturers Data Sheet above. ↑↑

Can you latex on chipboard?

You can use Arditex NA latex self-levelling compound that comes with a tub of latex, directly onto a chipboard floor covering, with no need for a primer. The latex will not soak into the chipboard, but it will still create a strong bond, so there is no risk of damaging the chipboard flooring sheets below.

Conventional Self-levelling compound that you mix with water however can soak into the chipboard causing it to blow. So you may require a primer which adds an extra step to the process, as well as buying an extra product.

The latex in the mixture gives the self-levelling compound some increased flexibility so it can be applied on upper-floor bathrooms or suspended timber ground floors, where there may be some slight movement. This makes it the perfect choice for a chipboard floor covering.

The product I like to use is linked below

Suitable for all subfloors
Ardex - Arditex NA Powder & Latex (24.5kg)
£60.40

No need to Prime

Easy to spread due to Latex

Finds its own natural level

Pre-mixed ratio

1 Bag = 1 Tub = 1 Bucket

Buy Now On Amazon
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps fund the Bloke Cave and allows us to create epic projects!
03/23/2024 06:20 am GMT
Chipboard Flooring
Chipboard Flooring

It is always best to read the manufacturer’s data sheet before buying, or at least before laying a self-levelling compound. I have included the full data sheet for Arditex Ardex NA as an example, and so you can see if it meets your needs.

Check out the datasheet for more information about Ardex Arditex NA

Latex is one of the ingredients in the bag of self-levelling cement/compound. You need to be Looking out for what it is mixed with!

(All manufacturers can state that it is Latex-self levelling compound)

Latex self-levelling compound that you mix with water is not suitable for direct application to chipboard.

Latex self-levelling compound that you mix with a tub of latex is suitable for direct application to chipboard.

I tend to just use Arditex NA, I know it is a quality product from my own experience using it and by the fact it can be used on the widest array of sub-floor coverings, compared to any other self-levelling compounds available on the market. Thus giving me the best possible chances of success on all my projects.

Can you screed on chipboard?

You can screed onto chipboard flooring sheets, but with one major caveat. Screed is a blanket term for a layer of levelled material. The best type of screed to use on chipboard would be a very fine powdery cement that can be applied across the surface in a thin layer to level the surface.

Self-levelling compound or self-levelling cement is the perfect product, as it matches that description perfectly.

NOTE: You can only use a self-levelling compound that is mixed with latex directly onto chipboard floor coverings.

NEVER: use a self-levelling compound that you mix with water directly onto the chipboard, as it will cause the chipboard to swell.

Only: use a self-levelling compound that is sold together with a tub of latex. Like the one shown here on the left.

Arditex NA self-levelling compound with latex (Left) SikaFloor Self-levelling compound (Right)

The Latex will not be absorbed into the chipboard so as not to damage it, but it will still create a strong bond. The latex in the mixture also gives the self-levelling compound some increased flexibility. Making it more suitable for chipboard floors suspended on timber joists.

I like to use Arditex NA as I have used it many times before. It comes with a bag of self-levelling cement and a tub of latex in the right ratio, ready to mix together. All you need to do is mix them together in a bucket to get cracking with your floor screeding operation.

It is more expensive than its competitors but it can be applied directly without the need to apply a primer, to almost any floor covering including chipboard.

Suitable for all subfloors
Ardex - Arditex NA Powder & Latex (24.5kg)
£60.40

No need to Prime

Easy to spread due to Latex

Finds its own natural level

Pre-mixed ratio

1 Bag = 1 Tub = 1 Bucket

Buy Now On Amazon
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps fund the Bloke Cave and allows us to create epic projects!
03/23/2024 06:20 am GMT

How to level a chipboard floor?

To level a chipboard floor using a self-levelling compound you first need to make sure that the floor is sound and free from any movement. Check that the chipboard floor is stable by walking across it.

If the individual chipboard flooring sheets start to creak, it could be worth putting a few extra screws in before you start the process of levelling the floor.

If the whole floor seems to spring up and down in unison, then you may need to add some extra noggins between the floor joists, ideally.

But, this is rarely possible unless you expose the floor joists, So your best option is to try and use as flexible a self-levelling compound as you can. That is also suitable for suspended timber chipboard floors. I tend to use Arditex NA as I have never had any problems, in any application, including upper and ground floors.

What to use to level a chipboard floor?

The best product I have used multiple times to level chipboard floors is Arditex NA. There is no need to apply a primer, and it is more flexible than others available on the market, making it perfect for going over chipboard. I have never had any experience with it cracking. So I know it can be applied confidently to upper and ground, chipboard floors.

Other Self-levelling compounds that are mixed with water are often not suitable or they tend to require a primer. This is another topic in itself, requiring you to perform an extra step in the process. You also have to choose a compatible primer which is also a bit of an endeavour.

I like to skip this process entirely and just use a product I have had a great deal of success with before. You can apply Arditex NA directly to the chipboard floor, all you need to do is make sure it is clean, dry and dust free.

Suitable for all subfloors
Ardex - Arditex NA Powder & Latex (24.5kg)
£60.40

No need to Prime

Easy to spread due to Latex

Finds its own natural level

Pre-mixed ratio

1 Bag = 1 Tub = 1 Bucket

Buy Now On Amazon
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps fund the Bloke Cave and allows us to create epic projects!
03/23/2024 06:20 am GMT

If you want to know more about applying self-levelling compound click on some of our other articles below.

What is self levelling compound?

Self-levelling compound is also known as a floor screed or floor levelling mix. It is a thin layer of a cement-based mixture that is applied to subfloors in order to level out any bumps.

The mix is applied in a thin layer to subfloors such as concrete and floorboards, you use it before laying another floor, such as tile, above it.

It is called a self-levelling compound as it, in theory, self-levels. What this means is that you don’t have to worry about getting the mix perfectly level. It should flow across the floor, and correct any errors.

While this does generally work, there are limits. It doesn’t flow like water so will not perfectly level over a large area and may require a bit of help from you.

Why use self-levelling compound?

You use a self-levelling compound to turn a bumpy, un-even subfloor into a perfectly smooth surface. This is great when you are fitting a solid floor such as tile or wood.

Your floor wont be able to hide the bumps and just sit on them when you fit a rigid floor. Tiles will crack and break and a wood floor will bounce and move. Whereas a flooring like carpet will happily sit on an uneven base.

Related Posts

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Sam Wood

Wood by name, wood by nature. I am a fully qualified, time-served, award-winning joiner with an NVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery as well as an HNC in Construction. Beyond my joinery qualifications, I have also earned a degree in building surveying. I believe these qualifications make me perfectly positioned to provide expert advice on many different areas of DIY as well as share all of the tips I have picked up in over a decade working on building sites!

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