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This is a follow up question to my previous question about leveling a basement floor without losing the drainage. After the feedback I decided to use self-leveling concrete and cut (or form it in advance) grooves (canals?) that lead to the existing drain.

I just found that I received an answer with the same idea. But I'd like to elaborate more. For example:

Is it necessary to redo the drain or can I just leave it lower, perhaps by just adding another grill on top?

Can I use forms, for example pieces of wood that go all directions (like rays) from the drain?

Or is the best idea to use a screw driver like Justin Kuhs suggests in his answer to me? (BTW, Justin, thanks a lot for your answer, I didn't think of the screw driver at all, great idea!)

Have people here done such things? What were your experiences?

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    How big is the area you'll be leveling, and how much height do you intend to add to the floor? – The Evil Greebo Oct 14 '11 at 12:43
  • Good question. I'm not at home at the moment, but I think roughly the area would probably be less than 24 ft2 and it would probably be 2" at its deepest max. – Peter Q Oct 14 '11 at 16:02
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    Is self-leveling concrete rated for 2" thickness? Find out before you start the pour. – Scott Bruns Oct 14 '11 at 17:54
  • Good hint! Haven't been to HD yet, but will find out. – Peter Q Oct 14 '11 at 21:08
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24 sq ft would be an area approximately 4x6? Adding two inches of depth... I think what I would try in this case would be to get several 1/2" dowel rods and cut them to lengths that would allow me to align them in a radial pattern out from the drain, something like this:

enter image description here

Around the drain, I would prop them 1.5" up in the air, and at the periphery I'd prop them 2" up in the air, that way when I poured, I'd end up with 1/2" deep semi-circular troughs that ran downhill towards the drain. Pour concrete, let it set up and remove the dowels.

DEFINITELY add a new drain cap on top of the old one as a 3" diameter 2" deep hole in the floor is a serious trip hazard.

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    You could use pvc pipe instead of dowels. It might be cheaper and easier to remove the pipe from the cement. – Scott Bruns Oct 14 '11 at 17:53
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    I would be concerned that concrete would get into the hollow pipe since it's self leveling concrete in question. Removing the dowels after a few hours would be no more difficult than removing any other concrete forms. – The Evil Greebo Oct 14 '11 at 17:55
  • Doesn't have to be drowels, right? It can be 1x4 or whatever with the 1' at the bottom. I'm thinking of just laying them on the floor since it has the slope already. – Peter Q Oct 14 '11 at 21:11
  • Sure - those would work - I was thinking dowels simply for the more rounded drain trenches – The Evil Greebo Oct 15 '11 at 2:25

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