Anhydrite Screed - Builder Nightmare - Which Hygrometer

[McLovin]

Should have walked into a job that was left"perfect" by the customers builder on Monday but its gone to pot.

Long story short its been down for 6 weeks but the Laitance had not been removed. Builder had no idea what it was. Has done loads of these floors apparently.
Also two substrates (old house and new extension) meet each other. The Anhydrite was not bought up to the same level as the old substate so he has used cement based SLC up to 15mm / 16mm in places. Not that this made it anything close to level.

All SLC around 45m2 was pulled up by hand much to the customers disbelief.

I am tackling this in stages as the customer will be claiming back costs from the builder.

I am after a Hygrometer as mine is not very good and reads over the limit if someone farts in the next room.

This has been recommended on another thread but I am wondering if everyone is agreed on this.

ELS Digital Thermo Hygrometer « Express Liquid Screeds - http://www.expressliquidscreeds.co.uk/product/digital-thermo-hygrometer/

Is this the same: Tramex Hygrohood - Hygrometer - https://www.buybrandtools.com/acatalog/Tramex_Hygrohood_Hygrometer.html

Plenty of other issues to follow but one step at a time.

Thanks

 

[Flintstone]

Those are the same hygrometer yes. Sounds like it’s going to be a fun job for you. Bloody builders!
In stages as the customer claims money back from the builder doesn’t sound like something I would agree to but if it works for you.

 

[McLovin]

Hi Pal

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll order one today. Any preference of which one you would recommend?

Sorry that came across wrong. I mean I will be tackling the problems in stages not that the customer will be claiming back the cost in stages. This week has been a right off so the customer is claiming back my cost as it should have been good to go.

There are serval issues which might cause me to walk away from this job but its a big finical hit as I have turned away a lot of work while this has been booked in. I had it in the diary as 4 weeks.

This is a bigger job than I normally take on and my first experience with C/S screed.

Problems are new screed and old substate are different levels 15mm at highest point. 9 inch brick between old and new substrate. Floor is almost 13 meters at longest point by 6m.

Its keeping me awake at night but learnt a lot about S/C screed in the last couple of days.

 

[One Day]

Don't pay £80 - £150 for one!
You can buy the exact same unit on eBay and make your own boxes from Wedi board and 610 adhesive.
I'll link you up asap....

 

[One Day]

Anhydrite Screed Tiling - https://www.tilersforums.com/threads/anhydrite-screed-tiling.84346/#post-887202

Digital Thermometer Hygrometer Panel Incubator Hatching Eggs Poultry Brooder | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Digital-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Panel-Incubator-Hatching-Eggs-Poultry-Brooder/1388375229?iid=200969770929

 

[Flintstone]

You can get gypsum based levelling compounds to sort that out. Expansion joint neeed within that 13m length

 

[McLovin]

You can get gypsum based levelling compounds to sort that out. Expansion joint neeed within that 13m length

I was thinking of Arditex CL for the SLC. Would you agree? The tap is yet to be installed so 2 part works well.

I will upload a picture of what I mean by the two different substrates being divided by brick. Its not shown in the picture but it curves round to all the way to the wall. Where is curves round is around 6m into the room so I can use Schluter Dilex Ex (any other recommendations are welcome) expansion strip across the entire room. I am not overly sure of what to do with the expansion joint where you can see the bricks.

Picture was before the SLC was taken up.

 

[McLovin]

Might give a better idea.

 

[Dumbo]

Hi Pal

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll order one today. Any preference of which one you would recommend?

Sorry that came across wrong. I mean I will be tackling the problems in stages not that the customer will be claiming back the cost in stages. This week has been a right off so the customer is claiming back my cost as it should have been good to go.

There are serval issues which might cause me to walk away from this job but its a big finical hit as I have turned away a lot of work while this has been booked in. I had it in the diary as 4 weeks.

This is a bigger job than I normally take on and my first experience with C/S screed.

Problems are new screed and old substate are different levels 15mm at highest point. 9 inch brick between old and new substrate. Floor is almost 13 meters at longest point by 6m.

Its keeping me awake at night but learnt a lot about S/C screed in the last couple of days.

If it is keeping you awake at night walk away .its not worth it , I'm not saying never do anything like this just maybe when you've got more experience .

 

[Flintstone]

I’m glad it’s not my job!

 

[McLovin]

If it is keeping you awake at night walk away .its not worth it , I'm not saying never do anything like this just maybe when you've got more experience .

Cheers Pal. Its keeping me up as Im going through all the different options at night. Im 4 years in and have a good rep and customer base. I just want to make sure its been done right.

I don't want to shy away from a problem. How else do yo build your experience.

I know what you mean though.

 

[McLovin]

I’m glad it’s not my job!

Its a dogs dinner.

Any ideas? A soft joint won't be enough but anything else will look terrible. How do people get round this. Extensions being built next to existing substrate is a common thing.

Its also 80 x 80 tiles just to add a bit more of an edge to this job.

 

[McLovin]

Anhydrite Screed Tiling - https://www.tilersforums.com/threads/anhydrite-screed-tiling.84346/#post-887202

Digital Thermometer Hygrometer Panel Incubator Hatching Eggs Poultry Brooder | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Digital-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Panel-Incubator-Hatching-Eggs-Poultry-Brooder/1388375229?iid=200969770929

I saw that on that thread. I had considered it but can't leave anything to chance on this job.

 

[Andy Allen]

Totally agree....... Life's to short to be getting stressed about work and not sleeping..

 

[Flintstone]

I’m not sure why there is a corse of bricks in the floor still. Is it an option to get the whole floor nice and level, then ditra the whole thing and just put your expansion joint in within the 13m length? Unless it has any ufh in this screed ?

 

[McLovin]

Totally agree....... Life's to short to be getting stressed about work and not sleeping..

I agree Andy but Id take some stress if its outwieghed by experience and knowledge gained. Knowledge is power as they say.

 

[McLovin]

I’m not sure why there is a corse of bricks in the floor still. Is it an option to get the whole floor nice and level, then ditra the whole thing and just put your expansion joint in within the 13m length? Unless it has any ufh in this screed ?

I have no idea why the bricks have been left in. It makes no sense to me but who knows how a builders mind works.

My plan dependant on moisture test was fill voids in brick work with flexible turbo adhesive then to level the entire floor with Arditex CL. Once dry Dirta over the the entire area. Add an expansion strip where the bricks curve round and use a silicone joint where there other line of brinks (ones in picture) are. If I am not mistaken Dirta allows a moment of up to 4mm incase there is movement or further shrinkage but a soft joint should help. Lucky an Island sits on a section of brick work.

Sounds too easy?

No UFH.

 

[thickbed]

Make sure you get it sanded first!

 

[McLovin]

Walked away from the job in the end.

There were to many issues with bad prep that were not acceptable.

After a box reading the humidity in the floor was still in the mid 90's. Which I would put down to it not being sanded and moisture not being able to escape.