I'm trying to level a rough basement floor in a small room with some nooks. I've learned that a straight edge tool will help me figure out where leveling is needed. But I have a question: why do some straight edges cost only $15 while others are priced at $200 or more? Also, how long should my straight edge be compared to the floor I'm working with?
3 Answers
You might want to consider using Ardex self-leveler along with a squeegee to spread it out, which can simplify the leveling process pretty effectively! It saves you the hassle of a complicated setup.
There’s a great tutorial on This Old House about leveling floors, which you might find helpful! Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/diDVtXpAcLg?si=SfNUDPZPlvHXHe6b. It covers some techniques you may want to use.
The price difference mainly comes down to durability, accuracy, and how straight the edge really is. The really expensive ones are super flat (like to within 0.001 inch) and won't warp over time. For your needs, I’d suggest grabbing a decent 6-foot bubble level instead. They’re reasonably priced and great for leveling floors. Just mark the level every foot, shim it up, and measure from the slab to see how much needs filling in. It's a straightforward way to create a helpful grid for your project.
That sounds like a good idea! I’ll definitely check out Ardex.