Should my floor scr...
 

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[Closed] Should my floor screed look like this?

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And if it shouldn't, how do i fix it?

It was a semi-dry screed and hasn't been allowed to get wet, the room has been well ventilated and not too hot.

https://flic.kr/p/2goTibG

https://flic.kr/p/2goTiaj


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 8:50 pm
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That looks a bit rough to be fair - is the surface quite friable? ie. is it easy to scrape a layer of it off/is it quite “crumbly”? I assume it’s a new screed? If so, why does it stop where it does?

I’m no expert on screeds; I reckon wrightyson would be better on them. I suppose next step is to work out what floor covering you’re planning to put on top? Wood? Tiles? Carpet?


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 9:16 pm
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It looks thin for a semi-dry sand/cement screed. You say the room was well ventilated and the screed wasn't allowed to get wet - this puzzles me; was the screed covered to keep the moisture in? Once the initial set has occurred, moisture is good for cement based mixes, it's required as part of the curing reaction.


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 9:45 pm
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If I drag my foot across it (wearing trainers) it does not break up or crumble.
The screed was not covered to keep moisture in.
It will have a latex self levelling compound on it and and then amtico floor.


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 9:53 pm
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The screed in my conservatory looks like that but it does break up easily in places. Is it fixable or does it need digging out and redoing? It's been down about 10 years, I've just always had better things to do...


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 10:12 pm
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That looks way too thin. Was it bonded to the old floor at all?


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 10:22 pm
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OP, if it's been allowed to dry out when curing, particularly when as thin as that, it will almost certainly shrink, crack and debond from the surface below. Who laid it?


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 10:30 pm
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It looks maybe 35mm good chance it will be boss but maybe not if it was a semi dry mix with unibond prime, why did the suddenly stop rather than finish at the wall or existing floor?


 
Posted : 01/07/2019 10:30 pm
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No offence but that is a bit shit. Was it ready mix or mixed on site, is that timber a shuttered edge or is that the thickness of the screed above the timber? It really hasn't been worked to a decent finish looking at the first pic, a quick once over with a plastic float would have got you better.


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 6:52 am
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Not an expert, done a bit myself but seen plenty of screeding being done....

...no it shouldn’t look like that, even given the minimal amount I’ve done, I wouldn’t walk away from that!


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 8:18 am
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It’s ready mix and the edge is against an existing door.

It’s between 75mm and 90mm deep, it has gone down to level the extension floor with the existing house floor to form one room.

It will never be seen as the latex, then amtico will go over it.

Does it need re-doing from a structural point of view?


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 8:46 am
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It looks like a picture from the Sunday Sport.....

"Enormous Pound Coin found on Moon"


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 8:49 am
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If it was ready mix then at least we know the mix and strength will be right which is a bonus. At those depths it will be fine structure wise but I wouldn't let them screed my outside shithouse in the future and I certainly wouldn't let them latex it unless they can guarantee a good finish.
It should be nice and smooth once you've worked it with a nice metal straight edge, how is it for flatness have you checked, latex is good but can only do so much.


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 9:42 am
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I wouldn’t let them screed my outside shithouse in the future and I certainly wouldn’t let them latex it unless they can guarantee a good finish.

Suspect it is a DIY effort by the OP.


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 9:47 am
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I'd spray it with water and then cover with polythene to help cure the screed and minimise the risk of cracking.


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 9:54 am
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Suspect it is a DIY effort by the OP.

Oops, apologies for my builder banter op if that is the case.

Did you look like this when screening? That's the nice metal straight edge you should have had 😉

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/qgDZDztC/Screenshot-20190702-102748-Samsung-Internet.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/qgDZDztC/Screenshot-20190702-102748-Samsung-Internet.jp g"/> [/img][/url]


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 10:31 am
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It’s between 75mm and 90mm deep

That's thick enough then. I thought the edge in the photo was the thickness.

I’d spray it with water and then cover with polythene

So would I. Hopefully, it's not too late. How long since it was laid?


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 12:32 pm
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Surely the only reason for latexing a screed is they know they're not good enough to get the finish without?


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 12:39 pm
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It’s been down for 10days.


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 12:59 pm
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It’s odd I suppose cos it was the builder that laid it and we didn’t think anything of it until he asked if we had been dragging stuff across the floor.


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 1:00 pm
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Could someone explain what polythene will do?


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 1:09 pm
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Could someone explain what polythene will do?

Bring your seedlings on a treat?


 
Posted : 02/07/2019 1:11 pm

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