Installing Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay?

What is Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay?

Slick Mix ™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay is used mainly as an self leveling compound floor leveler. It is the newest formulation of self leveling compounds with extended flow and heal times and higher compression strength. This product was engineered to offer many solutions in the flooring industry. It may be used as a traditional flooring underlayment. This is to smooth out sub-floors to make installation easier and faster. Slick Mix ™ self leveling concrete overlay may be used under engineered flooring as a floor leveler. Certain types of flooring need the flatness of the sub-floor to be within a certain tolerance. Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay will bring the flatness of the substrate within the required specification. Slick Mix ™ can be used as a finished flooring system itself. It can be applied over wood and concrete surfaces to achieve a hard troweled concrete appearance. This self leveling concrete overlay also known as a SLO can also be polished. It can go through the same polishing process as conventional concrete and produce the same fabulous results. Polish-able overlays are not created equal and Slick Mix ™ raises the bar.

Coloring for this self leveling compound can be achieved with integral color being added during placement. It can also be dyed or stained to achieve the desired color and effect. Slick Mix ™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay is the best floor leveler available. It is the easiest self leveling overlay to apply. It has the longest working and heal time even in hotter temperatures. The compression strength of Slick Mix ™ is very impressive. It boasts a high-early strength of 3500 psi in just 24 hours and a full cure compression strength of 7000 psi. This self leveling compound can accept foot traffic in as little as 2 hours. This allows a quick return to service with faster turn-around times.

Coloring Slick Mix™polish-able self leveling concrete overlay- Color shade™ is available in 16 beautiful colors and is packaged in a convenient 1 lb bag for every 50 lb bag of slick mix ( color chart available on website ).

Step 1: Surface Preparation.

Surface Prep, Surface Prep, Surface Prep… That’s the three most important terms for every floor system. It is extremely important to survey the floor before starting prep. Is there any oil, grease, paint, coatings???

Remove any grease, oil and dirt- You need to use a concrete cleaner or de-greasers in order to remove all contaminants from the pours of the concrete. If you start using a diamond grinder before cleaning, all you are doing is rubbing the contaminants into the pours of the concrete
Ideal surface prep method is shot blasting to a CSP of 3-6.
All surfaces are to be dry and clean.
Any cracks are to be filled with Crack Attack™ and ground smooth.
Area should have a consistent temperature and humidity level.
Be sure to apply protection to walls (tape and plastic) and apply weather stripping to dam the Slick Mix™ from entering non coated areas.

Step 2: Applying Primer to substrate.

When you are using Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay there are 2 ways you can prime the surface. The concrete substrate has a lot to deal with deciding the correct primer. Many existing concrete slabs are extremely porous allowing entrapped air to cause air bubbles in the Slick Mix™ if not properly primed. When you are dealing with a dense concrete slab you are going to have less chance of air bubbles forming. When you prime the floor using either method you want to make sure you go over all areas and inspect the primer for air bubbles before applying Slick Mix™polish-able self leveling concrete overlay.

For a Finish Topping or Over a Stable Wood Surface ( be sure to contact us about going over wood)– we recommend you always use our epoxy primer with a sand broadcast until rejection. This insures a strong bond and seals the pours of the concrete. Roll out our epoxy primer @ 10 mils and broadcast sand until rejection. Allow product to cure 6-12 hours(depending on temperature) then come back an remove all loose sand, leaving you with a rough sand paper finish.

For a Under-Lament– you can use our Acrylic Nano Bond™ when you are not concerned about the top finish( underlament) . Roll out the primer along the floor in even coats, not allowing the product to puddle. Multiple coats may be necessary when dealing with a porous slab in order to fill all the pours of the concrete. Make sure you apply Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay within 2 hours of the final coat of Nano Bond™.

Step 3: Mixing Slick Mix™polish-able self leveling concrete overlay.

These following steps are recommended when mixing Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay

Lay a tarp down and set up a table in a shaded area ( pop up canopy recommended when mixing outside )
Fill multiple 5 gallon buckets with clean cool potable water, 5 Quarts per 50 lb bag.
Cut open all bags and have them set up for easy access.
Measure 5 quarts into a measuring container and pour it into a 5 gallon bucket. Once in the bucket on a level surface you should mark the bucket along the water level. Drill a hole in the bucket along the water level mark and you will have the exact amount of water needed for every bag. Pour the bucket using the side of the bucket that wasn’t drilled into the mixing container.
If you decide to add color to Slick Mix™ be sure to add 1 lb Color shade™ pigment per 50 lb bag to the water and blend for 2 minutes until all pigments are blended thoroughly.
Add 1/2 of a 50 lb bag and mix thoroughly. Gradually add the rest of the bag of Slick Mix and mix for 3-5 minutes until lump free. For larger jobs we suggest using a larger mixing container ( hippo mixer, 15 gallon bucket, mixing pump w/hose).
Be sure to clean out buckets in a washtub after every batch.

Step 4: Applying Slick Mix™polish-able self leveling concrete overlay.

Be sure to close all doors/windows and turn off any fans
You may move the mixed bucket of Slick Mix™ by using a dolly or carry by hand to the application site.
Map out the room to make sure you don’t work yourself into a corner. You always want to work from along the furthest wall and move out of a room.
Everyone involved in the application should be in spike shoes.
Pour a ribbon of Slick Mix™ along the wall and use a gauge rake to spread material at the correct thickness desired.
Gently rest a smoothing trowel with light pressure over the gauged Slick Mix™ and make one pass from wall to wall working your way out of the room. This helps release entrapped air from the surface tension and helps with the leveling process.
Use a 1.25″superfine metal spiked roller over the entire area to blend out any unwanted water marks left by the gauge rake and smoothing trowel to give a more uniform floor finish.
When you are pouring the next batch of Slick Mix™ be sure to pour a ribbon into the existing batch that’s been applied onto the floor and do the same steps over.
Be sure to clean all tools during and

Step 5: Curing Time & Specifications.

Compression Strength:

1 day:3460 psi

7 days:5005 psi

28 days:6940 psi

Tensile Strength:

7 days:235 psi

28 days:390 psi

Flexural Strength:

7 days:1440 psi

28 days:1850 psi

Cure Schedule @ 70° F:
Working Time:15-20 minutes.
Heal Time:22-24 minutes
Light Foot Traffic:2-3 hours
Shear Bond:

7 days:2150 psi

28 days:2800 psi

Finishes: Polishing / Staining / Sealing Slick Mix™ polish-able self leveling concrete overlay.

Polishing: May be Polished within 24 hours using standard polishing techniques. Be aware you must use a 40-60 grit metal diamond wheel to cut the floor to remove the laitance and polymer along the top surface.
Staining: Be sure to sand floor using a 120 grit to remove any laitance from surface and open the pours of the Slick Mix™. You may use either Tru-Acid Stain™ or Infused™ Acrylic Water Based Stain. Infused™ will gives you more freedom and allows you to apply more pure colors to desired finish. Tru-Acid Stain™ will give you more of a natural earth tone finish and does not need to be neutralized ( wipe down only ).
Sealing: There are many different ways to seal the floor using our acrylics and resins. We suggest using clear Infused™ Water Based Acrylic Stain to encapsulate and protect the color you choose from darkening or shading before putting any resin based material on top.

I hope you have learned our knowledge on installing Slick Mix™polish-able self leveling concrete overlay. Be sure to always consult with one of our technicians before installing any project.

Thank You,