Help! SLC fail - Self levelling compound failed Pro 50

[Budha7]

quote - 'yes I have received your email and from the information and photographs received we believe the failure to have been caused by movement within the subfloor.'

The floor was screwed and checked for deflection prior to the backerboard being laid. I explained this prior to this reply from them.

 

[Budha7]

How does thermal shock effect the slc?
Am I correct in only allowing a rise of 5c in 3 days?

 

[TJ Smiler]

I think Ajax is spot on mate. If the UH was underneath the Ditra it would only need to be turned on for a very short while for it to shock and shrink the SLC. If the UH was on top it would take slightly longer but would still have the same effect. I also reckon someone is not telling you something.

Interested to see what they say

 

[Budha7]

OK thank you for this.
I am going to try and contact warm up as I fitted a 3ie stat, to see if it is possible to check for a maximum temperature reached, therefor find out if they have overheated it.

Ditras preference is to fit the UFH under their matting?? as per my post earlier, how do you guys do it??

 

[TJ Smiler]

How does thermal shock effect the slc?
Am I correct in only allowing a rise of 5c in 3 days?

No that is too fast, should be done over two weeks or longer

 

[Budha7]

will take note of that in the future.
This floor had been down nearly 3 weeks before being turned on..

 

[Ajax123]

In terms of temperature it is the cable temperature that is important and not the room temperature or the surface temperature.

That at said the type of "dry lake" cracking does NOT occur as a result of substrate movement.

 

[TJ Smiler]

That at said the type of "dry lake" cracking does NOT occur as a result of substrate movement.[/QUOTE]


Cheers Mate

 

[Budha7]

OK, honest opinions only please!

I have told you everything that I can, and as honestly as I can..
In your opinions, could you please clarify whether you believe me to be at fault, or the customer?

Thankyou all in advance for picking your brains, this truly is an awesome forum.

 

[One Day]

If it's a 3iE stat you are in luck my friend! They have an engineer mode (if I recall correctly).
Contact Warmup and they'll tell you how to access it. It records the events from initial switch on.
Your evidence should all be sat there waiting!

 

[Budha7]

it is indeed a 3IE.
I will send them an email now.
Fingers crossed!

When i asked this
'In your opinions, could you please clarify whether you believe me to be at fault, or the customer?'
what i meant was, do you think what i have done is incorrect and caused it, or the customer has been playing around and caused it?

 

[One Day]

I have to agree with Alan - thermal shock on the slc.
If the floor had too much deflection I would expect to see a lot more crazing and loose areas in the slc rather than the way it looks here.

 

[One Day]

If you're struggling with Warmup on email (give them a day or two) pm me. I have mobile numbers for some very helpful people there.

 

[Budha7]

is it possible for my warm up timing to of caused this?

 

[One Day]

is it possible for my warm up timing to of caused this?

Yes - if you heated it too high and too soon.
Also, if you fixed the Ditra while the slc still had excess moisture in it, then that trapped moisture could have fried the slc.
Do you know how thick the slc was and how soon you fixed the ditra after pouring the slc?