How much trouble am I in

[Geoffishere]

Hi all

I have just had my kitchen extension tiled an I am very worried after reading a number of threads regarding UFH.

I have recently had a 3x4m extension added to my kitchen. This part of the kitchen has had wet UFH installed. The scree is a concrete based scree and the UFh does not heat the perimeter 70cm of this due to the position of the units.

This concrete has been allowed to cure for three weeks and has then been tiled. It was primed- not sure what with and then a flexible adhesive has been used. It has been grouted. Due to the kitchen layout the tiled area is about 2.5mx2.5m and there is large untillwd areas around all sides except for 1.5m on one edge. The tiles used are 60x60x9.

The UFh has not been commissioned. The tiler did not ask about heating and I didnt think to tell him. I only started to get worried when he jumped when the fact that we had UFh came up in conversation. He said it was no issue and to give at least 2 weeks before commisioning and then increase the temp as slow as possible.

After reading other threads I am now very worried. Should I be and is there anything I can do to help

Thanks in advance

Geoff

 

[Andy Allen]

ufh should of been commisioned before tiling, was a decoupling membrane put down first?

 

[Brian the Tile]

in my honest opinion you have had the floor tiled to soon ,the concrete should have been left six to eight weeks to cure before tiling,i dont think you can blame the tiler realy here if hedid not know,maybe if it is a new build he should have known better,all you can do now is hope for the best.I would not even put your heating on for at least another couple of weeks yet ,and then only very gradually,hope every thing is ok for you or its a very expencive mistake

 

[Geoffishere]

No membrane was used. Is it a case of longer I leave it the better.

I am hoping because it is quite a small area I might get away with it. He has used a flexible adhesive but I don't know if this is enough to deal with any movement

What is the worst case scenario. Is it a case of the adhesive failing and tiles needing to be rebed

Other than leaving it as long as possible is there anything else i can do. Dehumidifier? Etc. is the issue with moisture in the concrete on the expansion and contraction of the concrete with heat

 

[DHTiling]

Hi Geoff and welcome..


Ok.. you now know what should of been done by you and your tiler , but it is past that now..

All you can do is very slowly and i mean very slowly heat the screed ... but do not do this for at least 28 days to allow the adhesive to reach it's full tensile strength.. you can really only hope that it does not de-bond or crack due to the screed curing over the next few weeks and the first initial heating of the screed that does bring stress to it..

Fingers crossed for you ..

 

[Geoffishere]

Thanks everyone for all your help

The adhesive was fast setting if that makes a difference.

My plan now is to comission the UHF at the end of October.

If the tiles lift will they be reusable?

 

[DHTiling]

If they come up whole , then yes.

But good luck on your side, they might stay intact.

 

[Colour Republic]

If it does lift it is unlikely the tiles could be reused, if it's the odd one that needs replacing or refixing you might be ok but if it's the whole lot then in most cases it is not economical to reuse given the time and labour costs in doing so unless the tiles are hidiously expensive.

 

[Geoffishere]

Ok. I have 3 packs of tiles left over and was going to take two back but shall hold on for now. Even if all of the tiles with underfloor heating came up I would only need 1 or 2 more packs

I guess it's just a game of wait and see now. Thank you for all your help