I have a landing area that leads to the front door.  It is about 7'x7', 
about 6" above the driveway, bounded by the front door, two walls on the 
side and the ceiling.

Right now it has 6"x6" floor tiles on top of 6" of solid concrete. 
Everything is solid except the floor is not level. It is lower by about 3/8" 
on one corner near the front door.  When we have driving rain (which we do 
from time to time in Miami summers) the water pond in that corner and I use 
a push broom to push the water out.  Plus my wife does not like the ceramic 
tiles there now, it's was installed by the previous owner and too slippery. 
Yet it is solid and not cracking.  The front door is another 4" up from the 
landing area.

I am thinking of using a self level concrete product to even the floor up, 
then install another layer of tiles (probably slat) on top of it.

What is a good product to use for this application?  also is there a minimum 
thickness?  If I just use enough to fill the ponded area?  or should I build 
up at least a 1/2" everywhere?

Thanks,

MC 

"MiamiCuse" wrote

>I have a landing area that leads to the front door.  It is about 7'x7', 
>about 6" above the driveway, bounded by the front door, two walls on the 
>side and the ceiling.

Exterior to house right?

> Right now it has 6"x6" floor tiles on top of 6" of solid concrete. 
> Everything is solid except the floor is not level. It is lower by about 
> 3/8" on one corner near the front door.  When we have driving rain (which 
> we do

Door higher as is reasonable in that location and condition.

> What is a good product to use for this application?  also is there a 
> minimum thickness?  If I just use enough to fill the ponded area?  or 
> should I build up at least a 1/2" everywhere?

You will get a smoother look if you do the whole surface.  Slope it gently 
so it is highest at the door and lower at the yard portion.  If you do this 
right, you can tile right over it at the same time with something like a 
terra cotta tile that wont be slick.

There are many mortors out there, any one of the quick leveling types will 
work if graded for exterior (which in your area means rain, not the 
freeze-thaw the rest of us have to account for).  If you don't tile it, it 
wil look pretty ugly but you can get a swatch of outdoor carpet cut to fit 
and some of them look pretty nice now that they are past just the green fake 
grass era of them!

Thanks for the reply cshenk!  Pleasr see inline reply.

MC

"cshenk" <c...@cox.net> wrote in message 
news:T2%Pl.26121$h...@newsfe10.iad...
> "MiamiCuse" wrote
>
>>I have a landing area that leads to the front door.  It is about 7'x7', 
>>about 6" above the driveway, bounded by the front door, two walls on the 
>>side and the ceiling.
>
> Exterior to house right?
yes, exterior to house.  Exposed to the element, but it is covered by a rood 
overhang and has two side walls.

>
>> Right now it has 6"x6" floor tiles on top of 6" of solid concrete. 
>> Everything is solid except the floor is not level. It is lower by about 
>> 3/8" on one corner near the front door.  When we have driving rain (which 
>> we do
>
> Door higher as is reasonable in that location and condition.
>
>> What is a good product to use for this application?  also is there a 
>> minimum thickness?  If I just use enough to fill the ponded area?  or 
>> should I build up at least a 1/2" everywhere?
>
> You will get a smoother look if you do the whole surface.  Slope it gently 
> so it is highest at the door and lower at the yard portion.  If you do 
> this right, you can tile right over it at the same time with something 
> like a terra cotta tile that wont be slick.
That is what I don't understand.  If it's self leveling I assume it will 
seek it's own level, then how to I make it slightly higher on the door side? 
Do I wait till it's set a little then do something?  I can attach a 1x6 
piece of plywood on the outside step, that protrude say 3/8" above the 
current landling elevation, and pour this stuff in.  But once it's set, I 
don't think I can reach the inside being 6' away to do anything, unless I 
break this into two projects, a left half and a right half.

>
> There are many mortors out there, any one of the quick leveling types will 
> work if graded for exterior (which in your area means rain, not the 
> freeze-thaw the rest of us have to account for).  If you don't tile it, it 
> wil look pretty ugly but you can get a swatch of outdoor carpet cut to fit 
> and some of them look pretty nice now that they are past just the green 
> fake grass era of them!
>
I plan on tiling it with some terra cotta or slate tiles.  The step down to 
the driveway is also tiled (the vertical face) so I have to tile the 
horizontal and vertical face. 

On May 17, 6:43=A0pm, "MiamiCuse"  wrote:
>
> That is what I don't understand. =A0If it's self leveling I assume it wil=
l
> seek it's own level, then how to I make it slightly higher on the door si=
de?

You don't.  Build up the low area with mortar when you set the tile.
It's the right way to do it.

R

On May 17, 6:43=A0pm, "MiamiCuse"  wrote:
> Thanks for the reply cshenk! =A0Pleasr see inline reply.
>
> MC
>
> "cshenk"  wrote in message
>
> news:T2%Pl.26121$h...@newsfe10.iad...> "MiamiCuse" wrote
>
> >>I have a landing area that leads to the front door. =A0It is about 7'x7=
',
> >>about 6" above the driveway, bounded by the front door, two walls on th=
e
> >>side and the ceiling.
>
> > Exterior to house right?
>
> yes, exterior to house. =A0Exposed to the element, but it is covered by a=
 rood
> overhang and has two side walls.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> Right now it has 6"x6" floor tiles on top of 6" of solid concrete.
> >> Everything is solid except the floor is not level. It is lower by abou=
t
> >> 3/8" on one corner near the front door. =A0When we have driving rain (=
which
> >> we do
>
> > Door higher as is reasonable in that location and condition.
>
> >> What is a good product to use for this application? =A0also is there a
> >> minimum thickness? =A0If I just use enough to fill the ponded area? =
=A0or
> >> should I build up at least a 1/2" everywhere?
>
> > You will get a smoother look if you do the whole surface. =A0Slope it g=
ently
> > so it is highest at the door and lower at the yard portion. =A0If you d=
o
> > this right, you can tile right over it at the same time with something
> > like a terra cotta tile that wont be slick.
>
> That is what I don't understand. =A0If it's self leveling I assume it wil=
l
> seek it's own level, then how to I make it slightly higher on the door si=
de?
> Do I wait till it's set a little then do something? =A0I can attach a 1x6
> piece of plywood on the outside step, that protrude say 3/8" above the
> current landling elevation, and pour this stuff in. =A0But once it's set,=
 I
> don't think I can reach the inside being 6' away to do anything, unless I
> break this into two projects, a left half and a right half.
>

Even though it is called self-leveling it really isn't, not like water
anyway.  I'd be leery about using that stuff outside anyway, freeze-
thaw by me, salt air by you.

As already suggested get the correct slope  with your mortar when you
set the new tile.  If you are a masochist you could rent a cement
grinder to even things out first...

On May 17, 12:26=A0pm, "MiamiCuse"  wrote:
> I have a landing area that leads to the front door. =A0It is about 7'x7',
> about 6" above the driveway, bounded by the front door, two walls on the
> side and the ceiling.
>
> Right now it has 6"x6" floor tiles on top of 6" of solid concrete.
> Everything is solid except the floor is not level. It is lower by about 3=
/8"
> on one corner near the front door. =A0When we have driving rain (which we=
 do
> from time to time in Miami summers) the water pond in that corner and I u=
se
> a push broom to push the water out. =A0Plus my wife does not like the cer=
amic
> tiles there now, it's was installed by the previous owner and too slipper=
y.
> Yet it is solid and not cracking. =A0The front door is another 4" up from=
 the
> landing area.
>
> I am thinking of using a self level concrete product to even the floor up=
,
> then install another layer of tiles (probably slat) on top of it.
>
> What is a good product to use for this application? =A0also is there a mi=
nimum
> thickness? =A0If I just use enough to fill the ponded area? =A0or should =
I build
> up at least a 1/2" everywhere?

As an aside, you're in FL.  Hiring a mason should be pretty cheap and
a lot easier.  Show them the tile, tell them you want the stoop level
at the door, sloped toward the steps and in a flat plane.  Then come
back when they're done.

R

In article h...@newsfe10.iad>,
 "cshenk" <c...@cox.net> wrote:

> terra cotta tile that wont be slick.

Some downtown beautification bonehead put in terra cotta sidewalks in a 
couple of blocks of main street, and when it rains they are every bit as 
slippery as glare ice.