Self-leveling compound is powdery

[OMLAJA]

Hello.

I've had a contractor self-level a concrete floor. The result is extremely weak and powders easily when scraped with a ruler. What has happened and what can be done? The idea is to tile the floor, but that's probably not possible with this condition?

 

[BirgitS]

The easiest thing would be to file a complaint about the work to the contractor so that they redo the self-leveling compound for free.
It could, for example, be due to an incorrect mixture of the self-leveling compound.

 

[nino]

From which manufacturer did the spackle come?
Did you pump or mix with a whisk?
Approximate thickness?
How long ago?
Is it white on the surface?

 

[OMLAJA]

Which manufacturer did the filler come from?
Did you pump or mix with a whisk?
Thickness approximately?
How long ago?
Is it white on the surface?

Which manufacturer did the filler come from?
- Probau bas
Did you pump or mix with a whisk?
- Mixed by hand
Thickness approximately?
- 10 mm maybe
How long ago?
- Two weeks ago
Is it white on the surface?
- No.

 

[OMLAJA]

The simplest thing is to make a complaint to the contractor so they redo the self-leveling work for free.
It can, for example, be due to an incorrect mixture of the self-leveling compound.

Yes. But I want to understand so I can prevent the same mistake again.

 

[nino]

From which manufacturer did the filler come?
- Probau base
Did you pump or mix with a whisk?
- Mixed by hand
Thickness approximately?
- 10 mm maybe
How long ago?
- Two weeks ago
Is it white on the surface?
- No.

Weird...
White usually indicates too much water
2 weeks then it should be fully cured

Do you have any bag left so you can check the production date?

 

[Omogen]

If it is as thin as 10mm, it's a fairly difficult self-leveling compound application, so it's quite likely that one would overdose the water to maximize flow in it.

 

[MathiasS]

Do you mean by hand or with a whisk?

 

[OMLAJA]

Sorry, not 'by hand'. He used a whisk.

Can check the production date. All the empty bags remain in a garbage bag. But that'll have to be tomorrow.

 

[OMLAJA]

All the bags were from the same date (2025), so it was okay anyway.

If instead, one thinks about what needs to be done. New leveling compound naturally, maybe 1 cm. But what do you do with what's now powdery?
Would it be enough to prime it? Or does the powdery/half-hard need to be removed?

 

[OMLAJA]

P.S, no point in asking the entrepenör. He has left us.