542 Liquid Backer Board 40 lbs. Self-leveling Underlayment

This product is great and I do not know why it is not stocked in any HD in the area where I live (Western Washington). It mixes well and pours easily. It leveled out as poured fairly well and ended up perfectly flat for the 12'x12' that we did. We poured it over a Heat-Matrix uncoupling mat which made placing the tile much easier than placing the mortar into the mat first then placing the tile. It sets up quickly so we mixed all 9 bags at once. It has been installed for about a month as of this review. Very happy with the result!

I am a DIYer and was looking to remodel a small powder room (pictured). The plywood subfloor was uneven due to settling over the years, so I used Henry 542 to level the floor ahead of my Ditra underlayment & tile installation. As someone who has never used self-leveler before, Henry 542 is incredibly easy to use and works as advertised. I liked it because it did not require metal lath on the subfloor for structural support like other solutions. Follow the directions, including priming the wood surface with Henry 564, 554, or 543 solution (sold in a bottle) using a short nap or foam roller. When mixing the water and the 542, make sure you measure the amount of water per the instructions. It was also important to have the appropriate barriers to prevent the mixture from flowing everywhere. It is a runny consistency and goes wherever gravity lets it, so you have to build containment. There are solutions out there that are easy to use and I used one which was essentially styrofoam that let me cut the excess/top away after the leveling mix dried. Also worth nothing, you can spot-level the floor and do not need to cover the entire surface as I did. Finally, as silly as it sounds, practice your pour with an empty bucket!!! Make sure you know the path you are going to pour before mixing and pouring. You only get one shot and any attempts to smooth after pouring will be a challenge as the mixture starts to harden pretty quickly (see my picture and on the right where I messed up a little). My room was small enough where I did not need to walk in the mixture, but I have read that soccer cleats should be worn to prevent permanent imprints in the surface if you are walking through it. Overall this was a very easy to use product and worked as advertised!

perfect for wood subfloor. Dry time was exactly according to directions

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Mixed it according to the directions and did not really level itself. Seemed to be to stiff.

Really easy to work with!

I needed to level an area where I am installing a shower base. I blocked off the area, and followed directions meticulously. I needed about 1" depth in one end, and a "feathered out" depth at the other end 48" away. It all looked good during the pour, and I used a notched trowel to remove surface tension and make sure the product flowed properly. It set up nicely and looked good. Unfortunately, the final result wasn't level. It was about 1/8" low over 48". I am pretty disappointed by this and now need to find another product to get the bed level. I have reviewed the directions several times since pouring and can't see any problems whatsoever in how I handled things.