Why not level the concrete as it is poured?? If it is for a shower, post pictures so we can see what you see.

 

It depends on the type of leveler. With cement-type levelers, the sooner the better. For plaster-type leveling compound, the concrete would need to be fairly dry, so the leveler will harden. Don't know if you'd need to wait 28 days. No worries about the concrete either way. Sealing concrete up so it stay moist will make it stronger.

 

I’ll get a picture tomorrow, but I did do my best to level it as I poured. I did at least take a level/straightedge across it to make sure it was the same plane. However, it was not the smoothest of concrete and therefore was not super great for a self leveling effect. Also, there were other parts of the floor that were pretty uneven, but seemed too thin to use the quikrete to level those spots. At most I’d have a quarter inch to fill, and I don’t think the concrete mix would stick to something that thin.

so it should be fine to pour self leveler after the concrete hardens but not fully cures?

and for that matter, I will be using a kerdi shower tray which is pre sloped… does it necessarily matter if the subfloor isn’t perfectly level? Could I just use a thicker layer of thinset to install the kerdi tray and call it good? For what it’s worth, I’m sure that would WORK, but I wanna do what’s right long term too.

thanks for the replies

 

A level subfloor is the best and easiest way to level your shower pan.
You do not need to wait to add leveler.

 

Ok thanks. But I do need to let the concrete and leveler cure before putting the thinset and tray down right?

 

Just like with the concrete and leveler, if the leveler is cement-based product, there's no reason to wait for it to fully cure before applying the thinset, if the thinset is cement-based product also.

 

Read the bag .

 

Perfect that makes more sense. Now I’m going to be using the Schluter all-set, and the best I can tell from the data sheet is that it’s a mixture of cement, sand, polymer and additives… would you count that as a cement based?

 

would you count that as a cement based?

Absolutely.

 

It has cement in it. so it is cement base.