That time a basement slab in Dayton had a hidden slope I missed

I was laying LVP in a finished basement and my laser showed it was flat, but after locking in three rows I saw a 1/4 inch dip running 8 feet across the room. I had to pull it all up, skim coat the low area with Ardex, and wait a full day before restarting. Anyone else get fooled by a slab that looked level but wasn't?

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3 Comments

mason2096mo ago

Did you try using a longer level next time?

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max8086mo ago

Oh man, @mason209, you've found my weak spot. I own a two-foot level, a six-inch level, and nothing in between. I tried to hang a shelf last week using the tiny one like a fool. I had to eyeball it from three different angles and it still looks like it's sailing on rough seas. Your advice is solid, and I clearly need to go buy a proper one.

3

lucas1655mo ago

Longer level" definitely saved me here. I had the exact same "rough seas" problem with a picture frame once (driving me nuts, you know). Picked up a 4-footer and suddenly I could actually see what was happening.

2