cracked screed

[poynton phil]

A job im doing, as ufh in a screed with a slc over the top, noticed today that a crack as appeared across a corner about 50 cm in, its only a mm wide at most, but should i be thinking about using a crack bridging membraine befor tiling. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Stef]

I would check to see if it's loose, if it isn't then I would tile it.
I would also take note of it incase you have any bother in future.

 

[Ajax123]

Any pics?? That would help diagnosis and allow scientificly sound suggestions.

 

[poynton phil]

Not the best pics but the crack is just to the left of steel.

 

[Stef]

Oh that's a bit bigger than I thought, I read it as 50mm not 50cm.
Is it wet ufh in a self level, gypsum screed?

 

[poynton phil]

yes it is steff, it is all solid though

 

[Stef]

yes it is steff, it is all solid though

I'm having a bit of bother with one myself just now.
The plumbers had used egg board to clip the pipes in & the screed guys weren't happy, they had to weigh it down initially with concrete blocks as it started to float but once the screed was poured it held it down but they never took the blocks back out.
They tried to take the blocks out next day with hammers & cracked the screed, it's not too bad & is solid so I'm going to take a chance & tile it, not ideal but spoke it through with the owner/builder & he's happy to go with it.

I would let Alan deal with this one as he's the man when it comes to this type of screed.

 

[Dave]

That will open and close with the thermal activity of the floor , deffo uncouple Imho.

 

[culrossblue]

As a rule. Any screed with ufh should always have a decoupling membrane on top

 

[Ajax123]

If there is vertical movement it will need to be repaired. If there is no vertical movement then you could just use an uncoupling membrane. Wherever screeds crack I would always encourage get uncoupling anyway as you never know if the screed will crack further when it's heated.

 

[Dave]

If there is vertical movement it will need to be repaired. If there is no vertical movement then you could just use an uncoupling membrane. Wherever screeds crack I would always encourage get uncoupling anyway as you never know if the screed will crack further when it's heated.

That's not always possible with wet ufh , if the crack isn't wider than 3mm or likely to open above 3mm then a crack matting will suffice don't you think Al..