I'm renovating my bathroom and have encountered some unevenness in the floors, with the middle being 1/4" higher than the side walls. I'm down to 3/4" OSB, and I know how critical it is to have a level surface for tile installation. Instead of completely removing the OSB to fix the joists, I'm considering applying a self-leveling compound (I'm aware of its challenges and have some experience with it), specifically one by Mapei that works on OSB when properly pre-treated and primed. My main question is whether it's acceptable to pour the self-leveler as a first step, then lay down mortar to install my Ditra decoupling membrane before tiling. I've checked the height and it's fine, but I want to know if this approach is considered good practice. Alternatively, would it make more sense to lay some extra 1/4" OSB in the lower areas and sand the edges before applying mortar, even though it seems riskier? Any insights would be much appreciated!
1 Answer
I totally recommend going with the self-leveling compound! I've done it in my kitchen, and it worked out great. Just be sure you've done your homework on how well it'll bond to the OSB.
That's great to hear! Just a quick question, do you know if there's a risk in putting another layer of mortar on top of the self-leveler? I've seen mixed opinions online.