Difference between latex and non-latex floor levelling compound

[MBHomeImprovement]

I bet this has been asked before, but can someone tell me what the main differences are between latex self leveller and other self levellers?

Want to level the kitchen/diner floor (old concrete floor) and put Karndean LTV down. Currently the floor is unlevel (about 3-5mm difference across the room) so some kind of self leveller is a must...just not sure which.

Was originally going to use Setcrete High Performance from Wickes, but speaking to the Karndean guy they tell me it has to be a latex screed. Setcrete also do a latex screed, but its got a much shorter working time.

Just want to know what the big difference is and whether the other setcrete stuff would be suitable or if I should go for the setcrete latex instead?

Thanks

 

[dazlight]

First of all why isn’t the Karndean guy doing it?

Lots of reasons you need a latex screed over a water mix and the main one is moisture.

a latex screed is moisture tolerance so can be used under a liquid Dpm.
What’s the subfloor ?

 

[MBHomeImprovement]

Well, when I say the Karndean guy, I meant the salesman in the local Karndean supplier store, not a fitter.

the subfloor is a concrete slab with sand/cement screed for original house. We took down a wall between 2 rooms so the floors are not level, hence me needing to level it. But I’m wandering whether I can use the setcrete high performance stuff and still glue down Karndean or not. My worry with the latex setcrete is the very short working time.

 

[crazydaze]

Well, when I say the Karndean guy, I meant the salesman in the local Karndean supplier store, not a fitter.

the subfloor is a concrete slab with sand/cement screed for original house. We took down a wall between 2 rooms so the floors are not level, hence me needing to level it. But I’m wandering whether I can use the setcrete high performance stuff and still glue down Karndean or not. My worry with the latex setcrete is the very short working time.

Where the wall was taken out, has the DPM been compromised?

 

[MBHomeImprovement]

The wall was an internal wall between kitchen and dining room. The house is 1950s so I don't think there was a DPM.

Been doing more research since the last poster's reply and finding out a lot about how important the moisture issue is. Also I spoke to someone at Setcrete's technical department who told me that the High Performance stuff is probably the better option, but that I'd likely need to add a liquid DPM before pouring the leveller anyway due to the age of the property. Setcrete do a 2-part epoxy DPM which you're meant to put down and then level over the top...

Sounds like a bigger job than I'd really hoped for. Starting to think I might just ask the Karndean guy to do it after all

 

[crazydaze]

The wall was an internal wall between kitchen and dining room. The house is 1950s so I don't think there was a DPM.

Been doing more research since the last poster's reply and finding out a lot about how important the moisture issue is. Also I spoke to someone at Setcrete's technical department who told me that the High Performance stuff is probably the better option, but that I'd likely need to add a liquid DPM before pouring the leveller anyway due to the age of the property. Setcrete do a 2-part epoxy DPM which you're meant to put down and then level over the top...

Sounds like a bigger job than I'd really hoped for. Starting to think I might just ask the Karndean guy to do it after all

It is indeed a pretty specialist job, even with a ‘good’ subfloor to start with.

with the additional issue of the Liquid DPM, it won’t be cheap but having a specialist deal with it will be worth the peace of mind and finished result. A bit concerning your Karndean contact was so ready to sell product without asking the important questions to check you were in the right track prep wise.