Do you PVA before Self-Levelling?
You don’t have to PVA before applying self-levelling compound. However, always check the manufactures Data Sheet for your chosen product. These can normally be found on the manufactures website.
Note: All self-levelling compound manufacturers are required by law to produce a data sheet for their products. This will normally contain information on the preparation of the subfloor.
Risks of Applying PVA
Applying a PVA primer is very low risk, it is fairly inert and also water soluble. The only thing you risk when applying PVA primer is wasting your time, and destroying a paint roller.

Benefits of Applying PVA
There can be may potential benefits to applying PVA . Especially when used on highly absorbant or pourus surfaces, such as a dusty concrete floor or screed.
- Applying PVA can help to seal in dust and debris
- Applying PVA can seal the floor and prevent pin holes from appearing within the surface, providing a smooth even finish to the self-level
So, in summary if you have some PVA mix it with 4-parts water and get it slapped on. Otherwise check the manufactures Data Sheet and you might not need it.
I would definitely use PVA or equivalent primer if I was applying a self-levelling compound that is mixed with water, over a concrete or screed sub-floor. Especially if it was dusty and pourus.
I normally get around this by using Arditex NA self-levelling compound. It completely removes the need for a primer and it can be used over virtually any substrate. I have provided the Data Sheet for you to take a look at.
Do you PVA Tile Before Self-Levelling?
You don’t need to apply PVA to the tiles before self-levelling the floor, as It will probably make no difference. PVA mainly acts as a sealer for absorbent porous surfaces, like concrete or screed.
Tiled floors are the exact opposite, they are very non-porous. If you were wanting to improve the adhesion of the self-levelling compound on a tiled floor. You will need something with a bit of grit to provide a key.
Blue Grit is perfect for this as it will seal the floor and provide a rough surface for the self-levelling compound to adhere to.
Helps Adhesion on non-porous surfaces like floor tiles, porcelain tiles, terrazzo, quarry tiles and ceramic tiles