Kitchen on concrete ?

[loughran]

Can anybody tell me how long a freshly poured concrete floor should be left to cure before I can install kitchen cabinets onto it.

Not sure at the moment how thick it is but it's been poured over a wet underfloor heating system.

[FlossyThePig]

The problem is not "curing" but drying out.

We had an conversion/extension a few years ago where on old shower tray had been removed in the room which was becoming the kitchen. The concrete in that spot took weeks to dry out after the units were fitted. Fortunately only the kick panel had to be replaced.

[Muncher]

What depth was it poured to? I would be thinking at least 2 weeks, probably more.

[Neil - YVM]

For laying a floor covering the generally accepted rule of thumb is 1 day per mm of screed for the first 50mm of screed, the 2 days per mm anything over that. So for 65mm 50 days + (2*15) = 80 days.
However if checked with a. Moisture gauge is is often ok to fix the floor after 28 days, especially for coverings that won't be moisture effected (tiles).

Assuming the flooring is going in after the kitchen units, then after a week should be fine. Leaving the plinths, end panels off until the floor covering is down.

[Wozy68]

Is it not just screed that's going over rather than concrete? If so it's a matter of days that I've seen builders lay floor tiles etc on it

[Neil - YVM]

Wozy68 said:

Is it not just screed that's going over rather than concrete? If so it's a matter of days that I've seen builders lay floor tiles etc on it

I had assumed it to be a screed rather than concrete.

There are fast drying screed that can have floor covering after only 3 days! But if fixing tiles after only a few days, they will be sealing the moisture in.

[Spare tyre]

i always find good air flow makes stuff dry quicker

[loughran]

It is indeed screed. I was worried about the structural integrity, never considered the amount of moisture given off by a floor like this. A site visit confirmed much moisture, so I think I'll give it another week or so.

Thanks very much.

[Stig]

Ambient temps and humidity play a part as does floor construction (of course).

Simple test is to leave a tray or baking tin upside down on the floor overnight. If there's moisture in/under it then you know it's not dry enough.

Moisture tester most accurate I'd imagine, but need long probes depending on depth of screed.

[Wozy68]

loughran said:

It is indeed screed. I was worried about the structural integrity, never considered the amount of moisture given off by a floor like this. A site visit confirmed much moisture, so I think I'll give it another week or so.

Thanks very much.

I was once 'forced' into installing a solid Maple kitchen in a room with no screed. We packed the legs up the thickness of the specified finished floor height.

I still don't know what was worse, installing without a finished floor level, or the fact there was no proper roof on the building, just a tarpaulin over the roof joists.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 23 September 17:35

[loughran]

Ha, this has all the makings of a challenge too. The floor is 30mm too high and has obviously started to go off a bit sooner than expected, you can see where they desperately tried to get it level... and failed dismally.

More of a skatepark than a kitchen floor. Can't wait to see the tilers face.

[Wozy68]

loughran said:

Ha, this has all the makings of a challenge too. The floor is 30mm too high and has obviously started to go off a bit sooner than expected, you can see where they desperately tried to get it level... and failed dismally.

More of a skatepark than a kitchen floor. Can't wait to see the tilers face.

Hope you've not built any floor to ceiling cabinets then

The Bain of my life is having to build furniture off spec before the rooms finished for it. Hope it goes all ok.

[Neil - YVM]

Wozy68 said:

loughran said:

Ha, this has all the makings of a challenge too. The floor is 30mm too high and has obviously started to go off a bit sooner than expected, you can see where they desperately tried to get it level... and failed dismally.

More of a skatepark than a kitchen floor. Can't wait to see the tilers face.

Hope you've not built any floor to ceiling cabinets then

The Bain of my life is having to build furniture off spec before the rooms finished for it. Hope it goes all ok.

Agreed, just had to follow an over zealous plasterer who managed to shrink a Room by 15mm more than expected, just with finish! Had only allowed for 20mm scribe at each end. Reducing the skirting thickness by 7mm was 'fun'.

[Neil - YVM]

loughran said:

Ha, this has all the makings of a challenge too. The floor is 30mm too high and has obviously started to go off a bit sooner than expected, you can see where they desperately tried to get it level... and failed dismally.

More of a skatepark than a kitchen floor. Can't wait to see the tilers face.

He'll love you! Have you got rectified tiles just to make his day?