thanks but no thanks!

[doug boardley]

went to look at a job yesterday after I got back from my hols, a 35m2 opus travertine in a lovely country house (actually I lived there for 3 years many years ago as it belonged to ex girlfriends parents), anyway kitchen had been ripped out and all the walls studded and the floor had been screeded, albeit it looked as though it had been screeded with the back of a shovel.
Customer said they were having ufh so I said no problem as the slc could also help to fill and level the floor, he seemed fine with this. Then I mentioned de-coupling and the need for it, to which he replied that the other 2 guys and the builder hadn't mentioned anything about it having to be used but he would bow to my judgement if needed.
Now to the :yikes:....I asked what depth the screed was and what was underneath it.....his reply was that it's soil underneath with no dpm but the screed must be at least 2 inches thick!!!!,
I thanked him very much for considering me, but that I wouldn't be tendering my services.

 

[White Room]

I give it a couple weeks before it starts to crack, let them get on with it, who in there right mind does 50mm screed on soil:whatchutalkingabout

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Wise decision Doug:yikes:

 

[doug boardley]

I give it a couple weeks before it starts to crack, let them get on with it, who in there right mind does 50mm screed on soil:whatchutalkingabout

Joiner who's running job had told them it would be fine Mark:yikes: and bloke that plastered bathroom said he'd tile it as it is for them,,,,no need for "this fancy self levelling stuff":yikes:

 

[Stewart]

Will the tiles not hold it together........(;0)

Good call, but someone will tile it!

 

[Gazzer]

Gonna be one to wait for the phone call later when it all cracks up.

 

[doug boardley]

just had a text off them,,,,can I give them a ring as they haven't managed to absorb what I was saying about the job.
Will give them a call tomorrow and explain the need for a dpm and a substantially thicker pad. (altho I know they won't go for it)

 

[Alan.P]

Another one for the gallery me thinks, Doug, you tried your best. Best foot forward, scarper lol

EDIT you posted while I was typing, see if you can make them see sense ?

 

[doug boardley]

Another one for the gallery me thinks, Doug, you tried your best. Best foot forward, scarper lol

EDIT you posted while I was typing, see if you can make them see sense ?

I'll certainly try to Alan, it's a job I'd love to do as I spent some great times there, but it will have to be prepped right.

 

[user123]

:lol: Perhaps they would appreciate the suggestion to use what was used in old Cornish Miners cottages, to damp proof the soil - buckets of goatsblood! Goes nice and dry and shiny... :lol: I mean, it might work better than just slc? :lol:

 

[Colour Republic]

You sure the customer isn't getting their measurements confused??? I can't believe anybody would lay a 50mm subfloor.Think you'll find the floor is much deeper than the customer is saying... I hope!

 

[charlie1]

Doug, just out of curiosity, what made you ask the client what depth the screed was? Did you have reason to believe there could be a problem with the depth?...just aswell you asked though!!

 

[doug boardley]

I remember the original flags in the kitchen so I asked what they did with them, they said that they just took them up and screeded over the soil, that's what made me ask if they'd dug further down and put in a dpm, to which they replied that they hadn't done either.

 

[Mike]

I remember the original flags in the kitchen so I asked what they did with them, they said that they just took them up and screeded over the soil, that's what made me ask if they'd dug further down and put in a dpm, to which they replied that they hadn't done either.

why did they not dig down and lay hardcore, kingspan and dpm and have a proper floor? i bet that screed will sound hollow when knocked :mad2:

 

[doug boardley]

You sure the customer isn't getting their measurements confused??? I can't believe anybody would lay a 50mm subfloor.Think you'll find the floor is much deeper than the customer is saying... I hope!

I checked it Rob by the cellar steps, the flags used to overhang the top riser which had been removed and a shutter put there. The shutter had been removed after and you could see that the depth was probs only about 35-40mm there

 

[White Room]

Because you knew the place saved yourself alot of heart ache, any other tiler going in to price would not have that information..

 

[doug boardley]

just been on the phone to them, she was actually quite snotty with me, I tried explaining the problems to her and she was very dismissive about it all, saying that "we're not bloody builders how the hell are we supposed to know?" I told her that the builders/project managers should have known it was inadequate and then she said that the other guy would have to tile it then as he said it would be fine. I wished her good luck and hung up.

 

[Dan]

I wouldn't have even called Doug. (Perhaps I'm too harsh?)

Knowing the fact it's a job you're not getting the moment you found out you're tiling soil with some broken up pieces of slab on top (basically it's what it'll be in a few weeks/months) I'd have just let them get on with it.

You're too polite mate. lol You can't help 'em all though!

 

[macten]

Good call Doug, not wanting to hijack your thread but this seems to be a good place to pick your brains.
Just been to look at a job. 16m2 (probably vileroy+bosche large format porcs) in a hallway running through into a
downstairs loo. This will all have to meet up flush with the kitchen floor (70m2 of solid oak!)
Minton tiles on the hallway at the moment that is to be removed.

His builders are planning:
Sub floor to be excavated.
dpm and concrete slab poured.
100mm thick kingspan
Wet UFH with 15mm pipe from UK underfloor
25mm screed

Then me to come in and tile.
Could you guys give me your opinions on this prep, suitability, advice or recommendations?

 

[White Room]

The screed don't sound deep enough, should be about 65mm thick

 

[doug boardley]

]I wouldn't have even called Doug.[/I] (Perhaps I'm too harsh?)

Knowing the fact it's a job you're not getting the moment you found out you're tiling soil with some broken up pieces of slab on top (basically it's what it'll be in a few weeks/months) I'd have just let them get on with it.

You're too polite mate. lol You can't help 'em all though!

..but I'd hate to see them get a bodge job done Dan, especially as I've got an attachment to the house. I think I'll send them an email and ask them too really look into the subject of the screed and how it will fail if they proceed with tiling on it.