I am considering installing water-based underfloor heating and tiles in my bathroom. What are the actual advantages of using self-leveling compound compared to regular concrete? It's easier to get it even as it flows out and dries in a few days, but apart from that?

The bathroom is about 10 square meters, and with underfloor heating and reinforcement, the layer thickness will be around 5-6 cm, which means quite a few thousands for the compound plus a rather stressful job mixing and spreading everything. Additionally, I've never self-leveled such a large area with a slope before, so the risk of failing with the compound for 10,000:- and having to be embarrassed in front of the whole forum keeps me up at night already...

So, the question is; Are there any disadvantages to casting with regular concrete and leveling with a straightedge and trowel like they did in the old days?
 
Bronken
I got reprimanded here in the forum when I wanted concrete, but it was about 30mm, not 50-60.
(So now I'll try with self-leveling compound.)

I wanted it as a surface finish as well, and you want tiles.
Off the cuff, I definitely think it should work well and be cheaper.

But who am I to have an opinion, there are people here who actually know something :-)
 
Of course, you can use concrete at that thickness, but reinforcement might be sensible as you mention, and I'm not talking about reinforcement the thickness of chicken wire. That applies to self-leveling compound too, but then you can use a fiber compound.

Self-leveling compound is used specifically to get a finished smooth surface, which isn't as easy with concrete. A bathroom usually has one or several slopes, and in that case, self-leveling compound is often preferred. You don't have to level everything at once; it can be divided over several pourings.
 
I had carried out a reinforced casting, created a slope at the well, and then puttyed the entire surface.
 
7ender
Another thing is that flytspackel can be coated with a waterproofing layer much earlier than concrete?
 
7ender 7ender said:
Another thing is that floor leveling compound can be covered with a waterproofing layer much earlier than concrete?
The drying time is quite long even for floor leveling compound at thicker layers. The numbers on the bags should be taken with a grain of salt.

Expect 1 week +2 days/mm for thicknesses of 40-60mm.

https://vpp.sbuf.se/Public/Documents/ProjectDocuments/74276456-b978-4e3c-bf17-c6de0398f7fe/FinalReport/SBUF 11427 Slutrapport_Fuktsäkerhet vid limning på lågalkalisk avjämning.pdf
 
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ninhuo
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But with concrete, we're talking months of drying time before you can lay tiles.
 
Stefan N Stefan N said:
But with concrete, we're talking months of drying time before you can cover with tiles.
See the above link I revised in.
 
Stefan N Stefan N said:
But concrete, we're talking months of drying time before you can lay tiles.
I have plenty of time....
 
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