Advise on floor prep

[Matt Bott]

so I have been to see a porch that the customer would like travertine brick bond with a travertine border.

Currently they have a type of wood down from when the house was built there is what looks like patches of the floor has subsided so I pulled up some wood and found very crumbly substance under the bitumen that sticks it down the crumbly substance has an earthy damp smell any advise here would be amazing can anyone shed some light thanks.

 

[Tommythetiler80]

Hmmm....don't want to state the obvious but it looks like a weak screed mix,could be a total rip out and re-screed . Also maybe there may not be any DPM in the porch area so you may have to take that into consideration.

 

[Bond]

Subsidence, dampness, crumbling screed, as above, break out and re-place- only way to go.

 

[Matt Bott]

Thanks that's what I was thinking, what products would you use and is it possible to turn this around in a few days as I only have a small window while the customers on holiday?

 

[LM]

I agree with Tommy, the screed needs replaced by the looks of things. Once you've checked for the DPM you could use Mapei Topcem Pronto. You can tile with stone after two days.

 

[Tommythetiler80]

I think your few days window Matt could be used up doing prep. Then there will be drying time assuming that you'll be putting down new screed. If it were me and it definitely needs a new screed, I would get a local company near to you to bring you a pre mixed screed as I myself wouldn't want to mix anything like that by hand. Plus you know then you'll be getting a decent constant strong mix.

 

[Tommythetiler80]

Independent suppliers of sand/cement and screeds should be able to deliver as little as a 1/4 of a meter on pre mixed concrete .ive had it done for me in the past down here in sunny Weymouth

 

[Time's Ran Out]

It's only a small porch. Rapid set cement in screed and tile next day.
It should only take a couple of hours and you'll be waiting that long for a delivery.
Pre mixed concrete could take 6-8 weeks minimum .

 

[Dumbo]

Ardex a35 good rapid setting cement . Used it many times works well

 

[Bill]

You could also lay the travertine in sand and cement and be done in a day - proper monolithic method.

 

[Ajax123]

Thats an atrociously bad screed. You could dig out and start again of you could flood it with LV epoxy resin

 

[Dumbo]

Thats an atrociously bad screed. You could dig out and start again of you could flood it with LV epoxy resin

not sure about dig out maybe just Hoover up

 

[Matt Bott]

After all the advise I'm thinking Ardex a38 and mixing myself with sharp sand does this sound right ? Anyone know if that American bucket mortar mixer can be purchased over here ?