Floor Levelling & Screeds Buyer's Guide — TradieCart
Browse Australia's widest range of floor levelling compounds, screeds and smoothing products from leading brands including Ardex, Keratrade, Laticrete, Kerakoll, Mapei, Bostik, and more. Whether you're levelling a concrete slab before tiling, smoothing a timber subfloor for vinyl, or screeding a heated floor system, you'll find the right product here.
Understanding Levelling Compound Classifications
Floor levelling compounds in Australia commonly reference the European standard EN 13813 on their data sheets. Knowing the codes helps you compare products and pick the right one for the job:
- CT — Cementitious binder (the standard type for most levelling compounds).
- C20, C25, C30, C40, C50 — Compressive strength at 28 days (N/mm²). Higher numbers mean a harder surface. C25–C30 suits most residential and commercial floors. C40+ is for heavy-duty industrial traffic.
- F4, F5, F6, F7, F10 — Flexural strength at 28 days (N/mm²). Higher numbers mean better resistance to bending loads. F7+ is recommended for high-traffic areas and timber substrates.
For example, a CT-C30-F7 product is a cementitious levelling compound with 30 MPa compressive strength and 7 MPa flexural strength — suitable for most commercial applications. Substrates under resilient floor coverings (vinyl, carpet) must meet minimum 20 MPa compressive and 1.5 MPa tensile strength per AS 1884.
Popular Products
| Product | Best For |
|---|---|
| Ardex LQ 92 | Cost-effective self-levelling undertile compound for concrete floors — internal and external. Feather edge to 10mm (up to 25mm with aggregate). Tile over in approximately 4 hours. The go-to for standard concrete levelling before tiling without the premium price of K 15. |
| Keratrade SL400 | General-purpose self-levelling compound — 1 to 40mm in a single application. Walkable in 2–3 hours, carpet, tile and vinyl after 24 hours. Great value for residential, commercial and industrial floors on concrete. Suitable for underfloor heating. |
| Ardex K65 | The specialist for timber subfloors — plywood, particleboard, strip timber and compressed fibre cement. Microtec fibre-reinforced, 3–20mm (up to 50mm with aggregate). Walkable in 2 hours. The most popular timber floor leveller on TradieCart. |
| Keratrade SLE500 FLEX | Premium flexible levelling compound rated for internal and external use. Direct application onto timber surfaces, 1–50mm thickness. Can be polished with or without aggregate. Also suited for wet areas (not immersed) and underfloor heating. |
| Ardex K900 BF | Bulk fill levelling compound for large level differences — up to 90mm thick. Pumpable using automatic mixing pumps. Ideal for infilling trenches, service penetrations, and major level corrections on internal concrete. The most economical option for deep pours. |
| Laticrete Level | Standout single-lift capability — 3 to 76mm in one pour. Pourable and pumpable. The best choice when you need to level large areas with significant depth in a single application on internal concrete. |
| Ardex Feather Finish | Ultra-fast smoothing compound for minor surface imperfections — feather edge to 3mm. Ready for floor coverings in as little as 15 minutes. No priming required. Ideal for final surface preparation before vinyl, carpet, or floating timber. |
| Kerakoll KeraLevel Eco LR | Eco-friendly flexible levelling compound — 1 to 25mm, internal and external. High deformability for timber floors and yellow tongue. Certified low-emission for Green Star projects. A strong alternative to Ardex K65 for eco-conscious specifications. |
| Laticrete 3701 | Polymer-fortified mortar bed for very thin screeds and thick-bed tile installations. No latex additives needed — just add water. Pumpable, high-strength, rated for swimming pools and external use. The versatile choice for mortar bed work. |
| Mapei UC Leveller | Commercial-grade pumpable levelling compound — 3 to 70mm. Designed for large-scale commercial and industrial floors requiring heavy load resistance. Walkable in 2–4 hours, flooring from 24 hours. The most popular levelling compound on TradieCart by customer views. |
Quick Recommendation Guide
- Standard concrete levelling before tiling → Ardex LQ 92 — cost-effective, internal and external, tile over in 4 hours. Step up to Keratrade SL400 for thicker applications up to 40mm
- Levelling a timber subfloor (plywood, particleboard, strip timber) → Ardex K65 — purpose-built for timber with Microtec fibre reinforcement. Or Keratrade SLE500 FLEX for internal/external flexibility up to 50mm
- Deep fill — large level differences over 25mm → Ardex K900 BF (up to 90mm, pumpable) or Laticrete Level (up to 76mm in a single lift)
- Quick surface smoothing before vinyl or carpet → Ardex Feather Finish — ready for floor coverings in 15 minutes, no primer needed
- Large commercial floor — need to pump → Mapei UC Leveller (3–70mm) or Laticrete Level (3–76mm) — both pourable and pumpable for continuous placement
- Heated screed for underfloor heating → Mapei Topcem Pronto (ready-mixed, high thermal conductivity, tile after 24 hours) or Keratrade KeraScreed Binder with graded sands
- External levelling → Ardex LQ 92 (internal/external rated) or Keratrade SLE500 FLEX — most standard SLCs are internal only, always check the data sheet
Product Types
- Self-Levelling Compounds — Pourable cement-based products that flow to a flat, level surface. The standard choice for correcting uneven concrete before tiling or installing floor coverings. Typical thickness range 1–40mm. Popular options include Ardex LQ 92, Keratrade SL400, and Ardex K 12.
- Fast Set Levelling — Rapid-hardening formulations that allow tiling or floor covering installation the same day or next day. Ideal for time-critical commercial work. Includes Ardex K275, Ardex K15 Microtec, Mapei Novoplan 21, and Mapei UC Leveller.
- Flexible / Timber Floor Levelling — Polymer-modified compounds with enhanced flexibility for use over timber substrates (plywood, particleboard, strip timber) and other moving or deformable subfloors. Includes Ardex K65, Keratrade SLE500 FLEX, Kerakoll KeraLevel Eco LR, and Mapei Ultraplan Renovation.
- Featheredge & Smoothing Compounds — Ultra-thin application products for final surface preparation — filling minor imperfections, smoothing joints, and creating a flat surface for vinyl, carpet, or floating floors. Includes Ardex Feather Finish, Ardex A30, Ardex Fine Finish, and Keratrade SK3.
- Bulk Fill Levelling — Deep-pour compounds for large level corrections, trench infilling, and thick build-ups. Applied up to 90mm in a single layer. Includes Ardex K900 BF and Laticrete Level.
- Screed Mortars — Cement-based mortars for creating floor toppings, falls to drains, and thick structural layers. Available as rapid-set proprietary screeds (Ardex A38, A48) or traditional sand-and-cement blends (Cement Australia Sand & Cement). HSC Minerals supplies graded sands for custom screed mixes.
- Screed Additives & Aggregates — Binders, additives, and graded sands/pebbles used in proprietary screed systems. Includes Keratrade KeraScreed Binder, Ardex Abacrete additive, and HSC Minerals graded sands in 20kg bags and 1-tonne bulker bags.
Common Questions
Do I need a primer before applying levelling compound? — Yes, almost always. Primer controls suction on porous substrates, improves adhesion, and seals dust. Always use the primer recommended by the same manufacturer as your levelling compound — mixing brands can void the warranty. One coat on standard concrete, two coats on highly porous substrates like aerated concrete. The exception is Ardex Feather Finish, which does not require priming.
Can I use self-levelling compound on timber floors? — Only if the product is specifically formulated for timber substrates. Standard cement-based SLCs will crack over timber because timber moves. Use a flexible, polymer-modified compound like Ardex K65, Keratrade SLE500 FLEX, Kerakoll KeraLevel Eco LR, or Mapei Ultraplan Renovation. Always use a flexible primer on timber and ensure the substrate is structurally sound and securely fixed.
Self-levelling compound or screed — which do I need? — Use a self-levelling compound for thin corrections (1–40mm) where you need a smooth, flat surface quickly — ideal before tiling, vinyl, or carpet. Use a screed for thick build-ups (40mm+), creating falls to floor wastes, or structural toppings under tiles. SLC is faster and gives a smoother finish but costs more per cubic metre. Screed is more economical for thick applications but takes longer to dry.
How do I calculate how many bags I need? — Most 20kg levelling compounds cover approximately 3.5–4.5m² at 3mm thickness (check the specific product data sheet). To calculate: multiply area (m²) by average depth (mm) by the product's consumption rate (typically 1.4–1.8 kg/m²/mm). For example, levelling 10m² at an average of 5mm with a product at 1.6 kg/m²/mm = 80kg = four 20kg bags. Always allow 10–15% extra for variations in subfloor level.
Can I tile the same day after levelling? — With fast-set products, yes. Ardex LQ 92 allows tiling from 4 hours. Ardex K275 from 4 hours. For standard SLCs, allow 24 hours before tiling. For vinyl and other moisture-sensitive floor coverings, drying times are longer — typically 16–48 hours depending on the product, thickness, and site conditions. Always check the manufacturer's data sheet for your specific product and application thickness.
What do EN 13813 codes on the bag mean? — EN 13813 is the European standard for screed materials, widely referenced on Australian product data sheets. CT means cementitious binder. The C number (e.g., C30) is compressive strength in MPa — higher means harder. The F number (e.g., F7) is flexural strength — higher means more resistant to bending. A CT-C30-F7 product has 30 MPa compressive and 7 MPa flexural strength. For most residential and commercial floors, C25–C30 is sufficient.
Brands We Stock
We carry floor levelling compounds and screeds from Ardex, Keratrade, Laticrete, Kerakoll, Mapei, Bostik, HSC Minerals, Roberts (by RLA), MJS, Sika, Davco, ATA, Gripset, Crosbe, Sure Level, Cement Australia, and more — with fast delivery across Australia and same-day dispatch in Metro Melbourne.
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