Self-leveling concrete (SCC)?

[BooUrns!]

Has anyone used self-leveling SCC (Self-consolidating concrete) in their garage or homes?

I'm contemplating trying it out for the basement floor on a house I'm building. I know it's not a commonly use product yet but I'm impressed with everything I've read about it so far.

 

[menz300]

Is there any particular reason you are looking to do a self leveler? they are often used by artisans as a way of basically giving you a blank canvas to do acid stain and score cuts to a floor that is not in the best of shape.

 

[BooUrns!]

I'm interested in new concrete technologies and I've seen far too many basement slabs that only look level. It's also a labour cost savings as I would't need anyone to finish the concrete for me. I'm planning on using it in an icf 9' basement foundation that will have an EPS insulation underlay with radiant heating in place.

I've seen many different applications of SCC in different parts of the industry but I wanted to hear some input from homeowners that may have utilized the product.

 

[menz300]

Let me get this you are thinking of pouring a self leveler as your basement floor? I have never heard of this and as only houses have ever seen with radiant heat was the tube system with hot water running thru and they are very nice set up but the concrete was still finished as usual. If you are going to use a self leveler how are you going to keep the wire mesh suspended in the middle of the concrete without working the floor by hand as you pour it?

 

[BooUrns!]

No, I'm contemplating using a concrete product called Agilia-horizontal from LaFarge which is a self-compacting/ self-consolidating concrete (SCC).
I'm not sure if you're familiar with SCC or not. It uses HRWR (high-range water reducers) to improve flowability of the mix while reducing the volume of water used which allows the concrete to flow easily without separating. It will actually push water out of the way as it is poured and it can have a mix design that looks like soup. Because of the superplasticizers adn it's flowability, the concrete levels itself and leaves you with minimal finishing work left to do.

The EPS underlay panels I'm using have channels that hold my radiant pex. The weld-wire mesh can easily be supported at the right height on the EPS while the SCC flows over it.