Screed disaster
Discussion
Just been to take a look at the screed floor our contractor laid a few days ago, it's a mess. Lumpy all over with dips of 15mm and peaks of 15mm meaning there is about 30mm difference between parts.
I spoke to him and he wants to use a self levelling compound to get it smooth before laying underfloor heating Mats and tiling over with ceramic tiles.
Any thoughts on this?
I spoke to him and he wants to use a self levelling compound to get it smooth before laying underfloor heating Mats and tiling over with ceramic tiles.
Any thoughts on this?
Edited by sealtt on Sunday 25th September 10:36
The screed came premixed on a open tipper truck, the contractor was annoyed because it came too dry he said and that's why he couldn't get it good level.
It is going to be ceramic tiles. It's just a garage being converted for use as a home office / kids arts n crafts room, so I don't care if it isn't by the book perfect. So long as it's good enough, even if he 'bodges' it to get it right.
I just want to make sure it's ok before the underfloor heating Mats go down. So thinking if I need to insist on it being redone or if he grinds it down that will get it smooth enough + levelling compound for dips?
It is going to be ceramic tiles. It's just a garage being converted for use as a home office / kids arts n crafts room, so I don't care if it isn't by the book perfect. So long as it's good enough, even if he 'bodges' it to get it right.
I just want to make sure it's ok before the underfloor heating Mats go down. So thinking if I need to insist on it being redone or if he grinds it down that will get it smooth enough + levelling compound for dips?
Well he went at it self levelling. It's now uneven, but smoothly so.
The overall peaks and dips are probably still a good 25-30mm, just they are now undulations so less detectable than before.
At the hospital most of the time with a newborn baby so hard to give this matter proper attention. Not sure what to tell him to do now.
The overall peaks and dips are probably still a good 25-30mm, just they are now undulations so less detectable than before.
At the hospital most of the time with a newborn baby so hard to give this matter proper attention. Not sure what to tell him to do now.
hedgefinder said:
but thats approximately what it was according to the intial post before it had self leveller down?
If thats the case I dont think the guy knows what he is doing and would have a distinct lack of confidence in his ability to carry out any further work in this area.
Yes it's not much difference to min & max from before, just smoother. He may have improved it by about 5mm-10mm, it's hard to say as there are undulations all over.If thats the case I dont think the guy knows what he is doing and would have a distinct lack of confidence in his ability to carry out any further work in this area.
Already paid him 50% up front for materials, I wasn't worried as he's done a few jobs for us before, but it was all basics and seems this might be a bit much for him. Though he has done house renovations so thought it'd be ok.
Looks like the contractor has decided to do a runner with the £2k materials money and left the place as it is... BRILLIANT!!!
I'm really not into the idea of ripping up this floor and getting a pro to start from scratch on this garage conversion what is basically a glorified kids playhouse. It's primarily going to have a big table in the middle where the kids can do arts and crafts without messing up the house. I may use laptop there sometimes as a home office but not much.
SO any ideas on what can be done to sort this mess? Maybe some plywood sheets over the top?
I have currently got ceramic tiles but could easily take them back and get lino or something to make it easier. UFH has already been cancelled.
Thanks for any ideas or advice.
I'm really not into the idea of ripping up this floor and getting a pro to start from scratch on this garage conversion what is basically a glorified kids playhouse. It's primarily going to have a big table in the middle where the kids can do arts and crafts without messing up the house. I may use laptop there sometimes as a home office but not much.
SO any ideas on what can be done to sort this mess? Maybe some plywood sheets over the top?
I have currently got ceramic tiles but could easily take them back and get lino or something to make it easier. UFH has already been cancelled.
Thanks for any ideas or advice.
Edited by sealtt on Friday 7th October 11:38
Very disappointed with the original contractor, given him a good 2-3 months work before this job, once he messed the screed up and realised he was going to probably end up out of pocket on that part of the job he stopped turning up, breaking promises etc and then when I wasn't at the house my fiancée let him in and he went and got his tools and left. That was Thursday not heard from him since, no reply to messages or calls, he hadn't done any work the whole week. Either way don't want him doing any more as he clearly is out of his depth.
Will see how I feel once the job is finished as to what I do about him.
Will see how I feel once the job is finished as to what I do about him.
Edited by sealtt on Saturday 8th October 17:10
New guys really a different story, they've done a lot of work this week and we now have a tiled floor awaiting grout. It took a lot of work and a lot of material. Guy was half speechless when he saw the levels the previous contractor 'achieved' but just got on with it and fixed it without having to redo the whole screed.
They did a nice job of the plaster too, will be great to get it painted. Should be a nice little room.
They did a nice job of the plaster too, will be great to get it painted. Should be a nice little room.
Cheers! I'm definitely pleased to have got the place fixed up quickly and without breaking the bank.
It was helpful to have this thread to make sure not to listen to the original guy trying to blag it, he tried to have me put an expensive UFH mat straight on top of his mess. He's buggered off with £500-£1k tops, probably worth it to not have him doing any more damage to the place. Expect his plastering would have matched his screed...
It was helpful to have this thread to make sure not to listen to the original guy trying to blag it, he tried to have me put an expensive UFH mat straight on top of his mess. He's buggered off with £500-£1k tops, probably worth it to not have him doing any more damage to the place. Expect his plastering would have matched his screed...
Looks like you've had a good job done there Gaz, big extension. Yes ours had about 3 weeks to dry out before tiles went down, mostly spent waiting for the no-show guy to do something.
Oh well, the tile layout makes sense to me, I think it's nice to have the full pattern as you walk in, whether or not it's the proper way.
The tiles were a bit of a bargain actually, was going to buy them in store at full price but couldn't face loading the car, so went home to order online and they were 50% off! Pretty good for the money.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Replica-Travertine-...
Oh well, the tile layout makes sense to me, I think it's nice to have the full pattern as you walk in, whether or not it's the proper way.
The tiles were a bit of a bargain actually, was going to buy them in store at full price but couldn't face loading the car, so went home to order online and they were 50% off! Pretty good for the money.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Replica-Travertine-...
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