What's the best way to level a concrete floor in a basement to prepare it for tiling. Im doing a small area that's about 8 x 8 and has a toilet and knock out plug? Thanks for any tips.

Hi Wmorg...

The best and fastest way will be to pour a SELF LEVELING compound such as laticrte's LATILEVEl (see 1st picture) or home depot's QUICK-LEVEL or any other self-leveling compound.

This compound can usually be poured up to 1" thick and can normally be tiled over in 4-8 hours (depends on brand you purchase). You should just need to determine high spots and low spots and pour compound within these areas so compound doesn't have to spread too far.

Here, you mix self leveling compound in 5 gallon bucket(s) to a pourable consistency (as recommended on your compound) and then pour the compound onto the floor (see 2nd picture)... it will self level itself and create a very smooth and level floor... see 3rd picture.

You may need to trowel the edges/feather the edges down for best result.

If possible, can draw a level line around the base of the bathroom walls (tape bottom edge of walls with a painter's tape and use this as a guide to approximate where you need to level too... ;)

Depending on just how thick the pour needs to be you may or may not have to raise your CLOSET FLANGE for the toilet. If you do need to raise the flange then use the extension kit with flange spacers sold at all home supply stores (see last picture). You want the flange to be flush with the finished tile floor or even better... directly on top of the finish tile when all is said and done!

You may also need to take a piece of wood and install it across the floor at the doorway (don't let leveler into the doorway... threshold will go here later) temporarily during the pour so leveling compound doesn't go beyond the bathroom. Further, you may need to install and tape over the closet flange extension spacer(s) before pouring floor, too so you have no issues of leveling compound falling down into the waste pipe... ok?

If this adds height to the bathroom floor that was unexpected you can always add a marble or even a thicker granite threshold at the doorway...

Let me know if you have any questions about this...

MARK